Bicycle Officers Assaulted by Gunman

Los Angeles: A Los Angeles Police Department bicycle officer patrolling near Central Avenue and 120th Street in Watts shot at a man after the man pointed a handgun at the officer and his partner last Tuesday, May 23, 2006.

The incident represented the third armed assault on LAPD officers in as many days in South Los Angeles. On Sunday, suspects pointed guns at officers in three separate incidents, and fired on officers in one case.

Just after 1 PM, Tuesday, Police Officer Salvador Cervantes, 25, and his partner, rode their bicycles toward Brandon Williams, 22, as he stood next to a parked car in the parking lot of a liquor store. Williams suddenly ran from the officers into an alley behind the liquor store.

The officers followed Williams on their bikes and saw him reach into his waistband. The pursuit continued through the alley, then into the yard of 1220 East 120th Street, where Williams drew a handgun.

Officer Cervantes fired, but missed Williams, who dropped his gun and surrendered. Detectives recovered a small caliber semiautomatic handgun.

No one was injured in the incident.

Williams was booked on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer.

Officer Cervantes is a 3-year veteran of the LAPD. He and his partner are assigned to the Southeast Police Station.

Force Investigation Division will conduct the investigation into the shooting. All LAPD officers face a rigorous review process after all lethal-force incidents.