Suspect rams police cars and shoots at officers
A man who led police on a chase in a bullet-riddled Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) vehicle was arrested after a standoff in Atwater Village on Wednesday evening. The suspect, whose name has not been released, allegedly rammed several patrol cars and fired shots at officers during the pursuit. He then barricaded himself inside the LADWP SUV and refused to surrender for hours.
The chase began around 5 p.m. when officers tried to stop the suspect for a traffic violation near Los Feliz Boulevard and Riverside Drive. The suspect fled in the LADWP vehicle, which had been reported stolen earlier in the day. He drove erratically through residential streets, hitting parked cars and other vehicles along the way. He also exchanged gunfire with officers, hitting at least one patrol car.
The pursuit ended at Edenhurst Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, where the suspect crashed into a fence and stopped. He remained inside the vehicle, which had more than a dozen bullet holes on the left side. He broke the back window of the SUV and threw out some items, including a binder and a blanket. He also claimed to have explosives, but no evidence of that was found.
LAPD negotiates with suspect for hours
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) deployed a large number of officers and SWAT team members to surround the vehicle and negotiate with the suspect. They used a loudspeaker to communicate with him and urged him to surrender peacefully. They also deployed a robot to approach the vehicle and deliver a phone to the suspect.
The standoff lasted for more than four hours, during which time the suspect occasionally waved his arms out of the window or stood on the roof of the SUV. He appeared to be wearing only boxer shorts and a bathrobe. He did not respond to the officers’ commands or answer the phone.
The LAPD evacuated nearby residents and businesses as a precaution and closed off several streets in the area. They also requested the assistance of the LADWP to cut off power to the vehicle.
Suspect surrenders without further incident
Around 9:30 p.m., the suspect finally gave up and exited the vehicle. He was taken into custody without further resistance. He was transported to a hospital for evaluation and treatment of any injuries. He is expected to face multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, evading arrest, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
No officers or civilians were injured in the incident. The LAPD recovered a handgun from the vehicle and searched it for any other weapons or evidence. They also cleared the scene and reopened the streets.
The LADWP issued a statement saying that they were cooperating with the LAPD in the investigation and that they were relieved that no one was hurt.
