Tag: Officer-involved shooting

LAUREL CANYON—The Los Angeles Police Department’s Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting that transpired in the North Hollywood Division on November 30 around 2:30 p.m. Patrol officers responded to a radio call for an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon, suspect there now,” at a business located at the 7500 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard.

The suspect later identified as Francisco Javier Alba, 52, assaulted an employee inside the location and exited before walking across the street to the west sidewalk. Officers arrived at the location and spoke with the victim, who provided details of the incident, which described that a misdemeanor battery and vandalism occurred. The victim described Alba as the suspect but declined to make a private person’s arrest.

Officers exited the business and returned to their police cruiser where they began to complete the associated crime reports, when Alba returned. He approached the officers while holding a drywall hammer with combined hatchet blade in his hand and appeared to be wearing numerous layers of clothing. Alba began arguing with the officers when they ordered him not to return to the business.

The suspect walked across the street to the west sidewalk while becoming increasingly agitated. Officers requested an additional unit for a “415 man” and for approximately 30-35 minutes continued to order Alba to leave the area and drop the bladed hammer. Alba started crossing the street toward the officers with the hammer in his hand. Officers gave Alba numerous orders to stop, get out of the street and drop the hammer.

He refused to comply with commands resulting in officers utilizing numerous less lethal munitions including a TASER, 40mm less-lethal-launchers and beanbag shotguns, which were ineffective. Alba continued to advance towards one officer, while still armed with the hammer in his hand stating, “Shoot it, shoot it,” at which point an Officer-Involved Shooting occurred.

He was struck by gunfire, fell to the ground and was taken into custody without further incident. Personnel from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and transported Alba by rescue ambulance to Holy Cross Medical Center where he was admitted for gunshot wounds and listed in stable condition.

A drywall hammer with combined hatchet blade was recovered from the scene and booked as evidence. No officers or other community members were injured as a result of this incident.

The LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene, interviewed witnesses, and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division personnel. The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures.

By Trevor

TOPANGA CANYON—The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) that transpired on November 1.

The LAPD reported around 7:45 p.m., Topanga Division uniformed officers responded to a radio call of an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon, suspect there now,” in the parking lot located in the 23300 block of Avenue San Luis.

The suspect, identified as Benjamin Pritchard, was armed with a machete and struck a victim several times causing minor injuries. Pritchard dropped the machete and produced a knife, causing the victim to run away.

Officers arrived on scene and spotted Pritchard in the parking lot, holding a knife. He ran from the officers, who broadcast a back-up request. The officers continued to follow Pritchard in their vehicle, they spotted him now armed with a glass bottle along with a knife. Officers made several attempts to detain him and gave directions to Pritchard to drop the bottle and knife. The suspect continued to flee on foot. Officers followed Pritchard, who was still armed with a knife and bottle, heading towards a nearby restaurant. Officers utilized their Public Address System to direct community members to shelter in place, as Pritchard ran into a parking lot of a restaurant.

Officers continued to verbalize with Pritchard who refused to comply, resulting in two TASER deployments. The first was ineffective and the second TASER deployment resulted in Pritchard falling to the ground, causing him to break the bottle in his possession. Still armed with the knife, the suspect stood up, and ran inside the restaurant outdoor seating area.

Patrons were still inside the restaurant as Pritchard turned towards the officers holding up the knife and an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) occurred. He was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground and taken into custody without further incident. An officer rendered medical aid until a rescue ambulance arrived.

Pritchard sustained gunshot wounds and was transported by Los Angeles Fire Department rescue ambulance to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Pritchard was positively identified by representatives from the coroner’s office. Notifications to Pritchard’s next of kin were made.

A machete was recovered at the original call location and the knife was recovered at the OIS scene. No officers or other community members were injured during this incident. Force Investigation Division (FID) investigators responded to the scene and are investigating this incident.

The officers in the below incident have been identified as Police Officer III Geoffrey Carlson, Serial No. 37373 and Police Officer II Phillip Phan, Serial No. 42556 assigned to Topanga Division.

The complete investigation is expected be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office who responded to the scene will review the subsequent FID investigation, evidence collected, and witness statements to determine if the force used by the officer was reasonable.

By Trevor

TOPANGA—The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) that occurred in the Topanga Division on Saturday, October 7. The LAPD reported that around 12:57 a.m., Topanga Division uniformed officers received a radio call of a male holding a handgun while seated inside a grey pick-up truck in the parking lot of a shopping center located in the 21000 block of Sherman Way.

Upon arrival officers located the truck parked in the lot and positioned their vehicles behind it. Due to the truck’s tinted windows, it was unclear if the vehicle was occupied. Officers approached the truck on the passenger side and observed the suspect, later identified as Oscar Lopez, 44, seated in the driver seat, and a second individual in the front passenger seat.

Both individuals appeared to be intoxicated and did not respond to verbal commands to exit the truck. After opening the passenger side door, an officer saw a handgun in Lopez’ waistband and ordered him multiple times not to reach for the handgun. Lopez lowered his right hand toward his waistband and an OIS occurred. Lopez was struck by gunfire and personnel from the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded and pronounced Lopez dead at the scene.

The passenger in the truck was removed by officers just prior to the OIS and he was not injured. The LAPD’s Family Liaison Section made notifications to Lopez’ next of kin about his death, while at the scene.

A loaded Polymer 80, Model 940 C, 9mm black semi-automatic handgun was recovered and was booked as evidence. An additional magazine containing four live rounds was recovered from the scene and was booked as evidence. No officers or community members were injured during the incident.

LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division.

The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office who responded to the scene will review the subsequent FID investigation, evidence collected, and witness statements to determine if the force used by the officer was reasonable.

By Trevor

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating an Officer Involved Shooting that transpired on Saturday, September 9. The LAPD Force Investigation Division indicated a shooting occurred around 1:45 a.m. at a nightclub on the southwest corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Ivar Avenue. Security guards flagged down uniformed officers and noted that a group of patrons were fighting and pointed out a male who appeared to be the cause of the altercation.

The suspect who was identified as a white male, approximately 30 years old, got into the driver’s seat of a white Mercedes-Benz that was parked on Ivar Avenue south of Hollywood Boulevard. The suspect drove the car in reverse, negotiated a turn and stopped in the middle of the street facing the west curb.

While the officers were driving towards the suspect’s Mercedes-Benz, the suspect who was seated pointed a handgun outside of the driver’s side window and fired the weapon towards people on the west sidewalk, involving in an OIS.

The suspect immediately fled southbound in his vehicle towards Sunset Boulevard.  Officers initiated a pursuit and after a short distance, lost the suspect’s vehicle and the pursuit was stopped. No officers or community members were injured during the incident.  Force Investigation Division (FID) and Robbery Homicide Division (RHD) investigators responded to the scene and are investigating.

The LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene, interviewed witnesses, and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division personnel.  The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures.

By Trevor

HOLLYWOOD HILLS— 23-year-old Mason Todd Swenor – a resident of Glendale, Arizona – has been identified as the suspect in an officer-involved shooting that happened near the Vermont/Beverly Red Line Metro Station on Tuesday, May 2, the Los Angeles Police Department released in a statement on Wednesday, May 3. Swenor was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and is being held on bail for over $2.1 million dollars. 

According to the LAPD release, on May 2, at around 9:40 a.m., an 18-year-old male victim (Victim One) approached LAPD Transit Services Division officers at the Vermont/Beverly Red Line Metro Station platform. He informed them that a suspect – later identified as Swenor – had brandished a knife at him. Victim One proceeded to show the officers a photograph of Swenor and told them where to locate him. 

Officers located Swenor on the lower-level mezzanine of the Metro Station, witnessed the knife he was carrying and demanded that he drop the weapon. Swenor failed to comply and fled to the street level where he confronted his second victim (Victim Two) – a 74-year-old Hispanic woman – and struck her with an undisclosed object. 

Swenor fled northbound on Vermont Avenue from Beverly Boulevard and while on the sidewalk, he stabbed a third victim (Victim Three) – a 61-year-old Hispanic male – on his left shoulder. 

Swenor continued to flee and officers pursued him into the rear parking lot near the 300 block of North Vermont Avenue. The suspect positioned himself in front of a parked car while still in possession of the knife. Officers, positioned at the rear of the vehicle, commanded that Swenor drop the weapon, but he refused to comply. Swenor then lunged towards officers with the knife, and officers shot him in response.

Swenor was taken into custody without further incident and the knife was recovered at the scene.

Swenor was transported to a local hospital and listed in critical but stable condition. Victim One was not harmed; Victim Two received medical treatment at a hospital and was released; Victim Three was hospitalized for a laceration and is in stable condition. 

Canyon News inquired if Swenor is experiencing homelessness or suffering from a psychotic disorder but Officer Matthew Cruz could not confirm at this time.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Force Investigation Division is conducting an on-going investigation to conclude if the use-of-force was necessary in this instance.

By Lacy