Cop hit with rock

Independent Staff

GALLUP — A Gallup police officer was struck in the head with a rock while responding to a domestic violence call late Wednesday night.

Officer Mark Spencer was investigating the report of domestic violence at a residence in the 300 block of Montoya Boulevard when someone threw a rock that struck him in the back of the head at about 11 p.m.

Erin Toadlena-Pablo, a spokeswoman for the department, said the impact caused a "severe" gash in the back of the officer's head. He was taken to RMCHCS for treatment and received multiple stitches to close the wound. No one has been arrested in connection with the attack.

Spencer met with department officials on Thursday to discuss the incident and is expected to remain on medical leave for about a week.

Toadlena-Pablo said the agency is conducting an investigation to determine who harmed the officer. Spencer has been with the department since 2004.