Officer-Involved Shooting in Southwest Area NR14324nv

August 28, 2014

Los Angeles:  On Tuesday, August 12, 2014, around 9 p.m., Southwest Area plain clothes officers assigned to the Narcotics Enforcement Detail were monitoring the area of 9th Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard when they observed a narcotic transaction.

As officers took the buyer into custody, they noticed the second suspect (the seller) had left the scene.  Officers searched the surrounding area and saw the suspect (later identified as Jonathan Christian) on 10th Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard.  Officers attempted to stop the suspect, at which time he ran to the rear of the 2900 block of Jefferson Boulevard.  Officers followed the suspect and saw him climb a fence.  Police Officer II Brett Rutkowski, Serial No. 40190, ordered the suspect to comply with his commands.  The suspect then jumped down the fence and lunged towards Officer Rutkowski, at which time an officer involved shooting occurred.

Los Angeles City Fire Department paramedics responded to the scene and transported the suspect to a local hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

No officers were injured.

Force Investigation Division responded to the incident and will conduct a thorough investigation of the officer-involved-shooting.

The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Office of the Inspector General and Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Departments use-of-force policy, which states that an officer’s use-of-force actions must objectively reasonable.  

Additionally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division will conduct a comprehensive review of the facts of the officer-involved-shooting.  

Anyone with information is asked to call Force Investigation Division at (213) 486-5230.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.