A manhunt was underway in San Clemente for a man who allegedly stabbed a deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, officials confirmed to KTLA.
Authorities said that around 2:15 p.m., a female deputy on foot patrol doing routine homeless outreach in the 1700 block of Avenida Estacion notified dispatch that she had been stabbed by a known transient.
Shortly after 2:30 p.m., OCSD officials posted to X, formerly Twitter, that residents should avoid the area of Avenida Pico and Calle de Los Molinos due to police activity.
The suspect, described as a white male in his mid-30s with brown hair, blue eyes and a beard, standing about 5 feet 10 inches and weighing around 160 pounds was last seen running toward the storm drain near Avenida Pico and El Camino Real dressed in a black jacket and dark-colored pants.
The deputy sustained a non-life-threatening cut to her neck and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Two nearby schools, San Clemente High and Las Palmas Elementary were on lockdown, though it’s unclear how long students and staff were kept inside the facility.
Officials urged residents to not approach the man if he’s spotted and, instead, immediately call 911.
