Orlando Officer Beaten In Head With Post While Breaking Up Fight At Nightclub

Orlando, FL – An Orlando police officer was bashed in the head with a retractable post while trying to break up a fight at a nightclub on Dec. 19, according to police.

The incident occurred at SHOTS Orlando located on East Pine Street at approximately 11:30 p.m., after police received a report of a disturbance, WFTV reported.

Four uniformed officers were trying to break up a brawl among several individuals when a man suddenly grabbed a retractable post used to designate where people should form a line, raised it above his head with both hands, and slammed it down onto the head of one of the officers, police said.

The second officer said he was also hit with the post during the incident, WFTV reported.

A security guard working at the nightclub grabbed the suspect and was able to pin him down on a nearby flowerbed, ending the assault on the officers, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

The attacker was later identified as 27-year-old Khareem Calderon, who was already out on bond for another matter at the time of the incident, WFTV reported.

One of the officers suffered a massive laceration to his head during the assault.

Photos showed blood running down his face and dripping onto his ballistic vest as he waited for medical care.

He was transported to a local hospital for treatment and is expected to recover from his injuries.

The second officer suffered a cut to his right ear and scratches above his right eyebrow due to the attack, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The Fraternal Order of Police Orlando Lodge #25 (FOP) shared photos to Facebook on Sunday illustrating the severity of the assault.

“An Orlando Police Officer was seriously injured last night after he was attacked while on duty,” the FOP said in the post. “This behavior should never be accepted by society. We hope the perpetrator is prosecuted to the fullest extent.”

Calderon has been charged with attempted homicide on a law enforcement officer and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Although his bond was set at just $15,000, a judge later revoked his bond for violation of a pre-trial agreement stemming from a 2019 incident, WFTV reported.

The prior case involved uttering forged checks and grand theft allegation, according to the Orlando Sentinel.