CASTRO VALLEY — An Alameda County Sheriff’s Office deputy will need facial reconstructive surgery after a violent struggle with two men in a hallway of a Castro Valley apartment complex Saturday night.
A second deputy was also injured in the altercation, and two suspects were jailed on suspicion of attempted murder, authorities said.
One deputy had the orbital bone in one of his eyes broken and suffered severe facial injuries. He is in serious but stable condition at an area hospital.
The other deputy was treated for less severe injuries to his face and body but was not hospitalized. Their names were not released.
Deputies were called to the apartment complex in the 2400 block of Grove Way about 11 p.m. Saturday after a report of a distraught woman who was bloody from a fight in an apartment.
In the hallway of the complex, deputies found two men — both 200 to 250 pounds, one “well trained in martial arts” — beating on each other, authorities said.
Deputies ordered the men several times to stop fighting and get on the ground, but the men continued to brawl, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly.
“At that point, the two men turned more aggressive and turned their aggression to our deputy, striking him in the face and knocking him to the ground,” Kelly said.
With that deputy on the floor and only partially conscious, one of the men, later identified as Keith Carter, 22, put the second deputy in a stranglehold and tried to gouge his eye out with a finger, Kelly said. The deputy was knocked unconscious.
At that point, the first deputy got up and tried to pull Carter off the unconscious deputy, Kelly said.
That’s when a second man, later identified as Willie Tinoifili, 28, started kicking and punching both deputies, Kelly said. A woman, later identified as Kelly Carter, 26, also kicked both deputies, said Kelly.
“Our deputies were outsized and outnumbered, and they were fighting for their lives,” said Kelly.
After Keith Carter tried to run away, he was Tased; backup deputies arrived, and all three were arrested.
Tinoifili remains at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $105,000 bail. Keith Carter is hospitalized with injuries and was expected to be booked later Sunday. It was not clear Sunday afternoon if Kelly Carter had posted bail, as she was not in custody at Santa Rita.
Both deputies have been on the force for several years and are on paid administrative leave pending a standard investigation.
“This was one of the most violent struggles that an officer could encounter,” said Kelly.
He said investigators are looking at the possibility the men were on drugs or intoxicated, or both. About 10 other people were inside the apartment where deputies believe the fight started. No one in the apartment was injured or arrested.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office investigation line at 510-667-3636 or an anonymous tip line at 510-667-3622.
Follow Kristin J. Bender at Twitter.com/kjbender.
