Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle Leads to Officer-Involved-Shooting

January 17, 2001

"Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle Results in Officer-Involved Shooting"
 

Hollywood – On Tuesday, January 16, 2001 at approximately 10:45 p.m., Rampart Area uniformed Officers Logan and Hernandez broadcasted that they were following a stolen vehicle containing two male suspects, westbound on the 101 freeway at Alvarado Street. Sergeant Carey, Officer Bolanos, Sergeant Ficken, an air unit and two Gang Detail Units joined the following. Officers Scott Frus (Serial No. 32170, 31 years of age, 5 ½ years with the Department), Scott Thielman (Serial No. 32320, 28 years of age, 5 ½ years with the Department), Christopher Razo (Serial No. 33276, 28 years of age, 4 ½ years with the Department) and Amir El-Farra (Serial No. 32259, 29 years of age, 5 ½ years with the Department) stationed themselves near the 101 freeway and Vermont Avenue.
Officers Logan and Hernandez attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver/suspect accelerated and a short pursuit ensued. The pursuit terminated inside the abandoned Fox Television complex at 5700 Sunset Boulevard. The suspect abandoned the vehicle, and hid inside the complex. The passenger was detained without incident.
Officers Frus, Thielman, Razo and El-Farra entered the complex and were informed by the air unit that they had a visual the suspect. He was running inside the complex. The officers followed the air unit’s light and began a search of a dark courtyard area. The suspect emerged from behind a pillar and began sprinting toward the officers, screaming unintelligibly. While running toward the officers, the suspect lifted his jacket with one hand, inserted his other hand into his front waistband and appeared to grasp a shiny metal object. The officers identified themselves and repeatedly ordered the suspect to stop and raise his hands; all to no avail. The officers believed that the suspect was arming himself with a weapon and was about to attack them. In fear for their lives and the lives of their partners, each officer fired his service pistol at the suspect. The suspect sustained multiple gunshot wounds and fell to the ground. He was taken into custody without further incident. No weapon was recovered.
The suspect was transported by paramedics to Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He was treated for his wounds and remains in stable condition. He is expected to recover. The suspect has not been identified.
This press release was prepared by Lieutenant Horace Frank. For further information regarding this press release, contact Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.