Officer’s Wife Charged with Attempted Murder

July 10, 2006

Los Angeles: The wife of a Los Angeles Police Department officer was charged with attempted murder on July 6, 2006, after she pleaded not guilty in Van Nuys court. Her bail was set at $3 million.

The charge stemmed from a domestic dispute between Yolanda Cade, 38, and her husband, who is an LAPD officer. The two argued just around midnight on July 2, 2006, at their Reseda apartment on Hatteras Street.

The wife armed herself with one of her husband’s handguns, then shot him two times. The off-duty officer was able to gain control of that 9mm handgun, as well as a .40 caliber Glock, which he also had in the apartment.

The husband ran from the apartment, wounded, toward a bus stop and asked a bystander for help. The wife followed in her car and tried to run down her husband, driving the family SUV over the curb. She crashed the car, then continued to chase her husband on foot.

The husband turned and fired one round as a warning shot to hold the wife at bay. At that point, LAPD officers arrived and detained everyone. Yolanda Cade was arrested and her husband was treated for his wounds.

The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division is conducting the investigation into the officer’s firing of his gun. Department policy generally discourages firing warning shots, but the policy does not forbid warning shots outright. The officer’s actions will be reviewed administratively as part of the LAPD’s use-of-force policy.

The off-duty officer’s name was not released as he is considered a victim of domestic violence, and as such, his name is protected under state law.