Officer Involved Shooting Investigation in Hollywood

Hollywood: On Wednesday, August 22, 2001, at approximately 12:20 a.m., Hollywood Area patrol officers and supervisors responded to a call of domestic violence in the 4800 block of Rosewood Avenue. The wife of the suspect met the officers in front of the location and stated that her husband was inside their apartment, had been drinking, and threatened her with a gun.

Metropolitan Division K-9 Police Officers Gordon Olsen 42 years of age, 17 years with the Department, Linda Travis, 40 years of age, 19 years with the Department, and David Stambaugh, 34 years of age, 12 years with the Department were in Hollywood Area and also responded to the location.

Hollywood Area officers made telephone contact with the suspect and requested him to exit the apartment without a weapon. The suspect refused and stated that he would fire his gun if officers continue to talk to him. The suspect hung up the phone and officers heard a gunshot from inside the suspect’s apartment. The Incident Commander formulated an evacuation plan for the apartment building for the safety of other residents.

The officers began evacuating the occupants when the suspect suddenly emerged from a stairway security door. The suspect was holding a handgun with the barrel positioned in his mouth. K-9 officers ordered the suspect to drop the gun but he refused and pointed the gun at the officers. The K-9 officers, in fear for their lives, fired their weapons at the suspect. The suspect sustained multiple gunshot wounds, was incapacitated and taken into custody. The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he is listed in stable condition. No officers were injured.

The suspect was booked for Assault with Deadly Weapon on a Police Officer.

This information was received from Lieutenant Rick Papke, Critical Incident Investigation Division.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.