Valley Motorcycle Officer Involved in Shooting

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, September 25, 2000

"Valley Motorcycle Officer Involved in Shooting"

Reseda: On September 22, 2000, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Valley Traffic Motor Officer David Hopkins, Serial Number 26736, 32 years of age, 11 years with the Department, was near the intersection of Reseda Boulevard and Sherman Way, with his radar gun, conducting speed enforcement. Officer Hopkins targeted a violator and received a speed-reading of 59 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. Hopkins followed the violator (Male White driving a 1994 Nissan Sentra) and, with his emergency lights activated, on a side street, pulled the vehicle over. As Hopkins dismounted his motorcycle and approached the violator’s vehicle, the violator drove away. The violator accelerated away at a high rate of speed and Officer Hopkins followed him. While Hopkins followed the vehicle, the violator braked rapidly in an attempt to cause Hopkins to collide with the rear of his vehicle. While attempting to reverse directions, the suspect backed his vehicle directly at the officer, attempting to strike him. Officer Hopkins drew his service pistol and pointed it at the suspect and ordered him to stop. The suspect’s vehicle veered away from the officer and drove away southbound.

Officer Hopkins followed the suspect and advised communications that he was in pursuit. During the pursuit, the suspect again attempted to cause Officer Hopkins to slam into the rear of his vehicle by braking rapidly. Hopkins pursued the suspect westbound on Saticoy Street to Zelzah Avenue where the suspect attempted to make a left turn and instead collided with the southwest corner. The suspect placed his vehicle into reverse and accelerated rapidly towards Officer Hopkins. Hopkins, in fear for his life, fired two rounds from his service pistol at the suspect. The suspect, wounded, was taken into custody without further incident.

Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics transported the suspect to a local hospital where he was treated for gun shot wounds to his upper body. The suspect’s injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Officer Hopkins was not injured during this incident.

The suspect, described as a male White in his fifties, has not been identified at this time. The preliminary investigation has revealed that the suspect was driving a stolen vehicle. The license plate attached to the stolen Nissan Sentra was taken from another Nissan Sentra of similar color three months prior. A search of the suspect’s vehicle discovered a substance that appeared to be narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia. A large knife was recovered from the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Robbery Homicide Division is conducting the investigation.

This press release was prepared by Sergeant II John Pasquariello, Assistance Officer-in-Charge, Media Relations Section 213-485-3586.

For Release 5:00 pm PDT
September 22, 2000