An officer with the El Cajon (CA) Police Department was hospitalized Wednesday after a man suspected of attempting to rob an armored vehicle struck him in the head with a hammer, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The suspect reportedly demanded cash from a security officer from an armored vehicle who was making a pick-up at a Jack in the Box restaurant in El Cajon.

The man — later identified as 30-year-old Robert Dille — allegedly started breaking windows in the restaurant, then fled south on foot with several witnesses tailing him.

A handful of plain clothes El Cajon police officers then joined the pursuit.

El Cajon Lieutenant Royal Bates said that one of the officers attempted a TASER deployment, but one of the barbs struck the backpack the suspect was wearing.

"At that point, officers with the assistance of several civilians tried to take the man into custody," Bates said.

During the ensuing struggle, Dille struck one of the officers in the head with the hammer. The officer, a 19-year department veteran, suffered a head wound and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and released.

Dille is being held on suspicion of attempted robbery and attempted homicide on a peace officer.