Pacific Officers Attacked at a Radio Call for a Business Dispute Suspect Shot during Struggle NR11027MG

UPDATED January 20, 2011

On January 14, 2011, at around 3:30 a.m., LAPD officers working patrol in the Pacific Area initially responded to a “Business Dispute” radio call in the 5200 block of Crescent Park West.  As the officers were responding, additional residents called to report “a man causing a disturbance.”  When the officer’s arrived, they were directed to and located the naked suspect, later identified as 25-year-old Reginald Doucet, who was jumping up and down on cars and behaving erratically.  Officer Aaron Goff, 17 months with the Department, and his partner who has been with the Department for 5 years, tried to speak with Doucet and detain him, but he ran away from them to where he had left his shorts and put them on.  Officer Goff and his partner tried once again to talk to Doucet and detain him, but he ran to another apartment complex a short distance away.When Officer Goff and his partner tried a third time to detain Doucet in the apartment complex doorway, Doucet immediately attacked both officers.  LAPD’s Force Investigation Division will be conducting a thorough investigation.   Preliminary information indicates that the officers were fighting for their lives.  During the fight, Doucet repeatedly punched both officers in the face and head and at one point tried to take Officer Goff’s handgun. Officer Goff, believing he was about to lose consciousness, shot the suspect to stop the attack.  Both officers were physically battered and dazed during the incident.  The officers took Doucet into custody and immediately called for medical assistance.Personnel from the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded and transported Doucet to a local hospital where he died as the result of his injuries.Both officers were injured and transported to the hospital. Officer Goff was hospitalized and treated for injuries to his jaw, head, knees and arms.  His partner was treated for injuries to his ankle, face, and was later released from the hospital.LAPD Force Investigation Division personnel are investigating the officer involved shooting.Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Force Investigation Division Detective John Roeda at 213-486-5230. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

UPDATE

Los Angeles:  Investigations involving Officer Involved Shootings are by their nature, comprehensive and exhaustive.  While the Department’s Force Investigation Division (FID) examines the events of January 14, 2011 in the city of Los Angeles’s Pacific Area, the Department is also open to reviewing policy and procedure.   The LAPD is continuously looking at best practices in policing in regards to policies, procedures and tactics involving the handling of calls related to persons initially perceived to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or having mental health illness issues.  How LAPD officers deal with those persons in response to crisis situations, and the tactics officers use, are two areas that are constantly being reviewed. Currently the Department educates and trains officers on such topics frequently through a Force Option Simulator, in-service tactical courses, mandated annual standardized e-learning training and through the distribution of Training Bulletins. FID is still very early into its officer involved shooting investigation.  There is still much to be learned and it is too early to make any definitive determinations. What we do know is that preliminary information has revealed that the officer’s were fighting for their lives.  During the fight the suspect repeatedly punched both officers in the face and head and at one point tried to take one of the officer’s guns.  That officer, a male Black, 17 months with LAPD shot the suspect to stop the attack.  The second officer, a male Asian, 5 years with LAPD, was physically battered and dazed during the incident. The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Office of the Inspector General and Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Department’s use of force policy which states that officer’ use of force actions must be objectively reasonable.  Additionally the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division will conduct a comprehensive review of the facts of the Officer Involved Shooting.

January 14, 2011

Los Angeles: Early this morning, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers from Pacific Area responded to a call for a business dispute involving a disturbance.

On January 14, 2011, at around 3:30 a.m., LAPD officers working patrol in the Pacific Area initially responded to a “Business Dispute” radio call in the 5200 block of Crescent Park West.  As the officers were responding additional residents called to report “a man causing a disturbance.”  When the officer’s arrived they were directed to and located the naked suspect, a 25-year-old Black male who was jumping up and down on cars and behaving erratically.  The officers tried to speak with the suspect and detain him but he ran away from them to where he had left his shorts and put them on.  The officers tried once again to talk to the suspect and detain him, but he ran to another apartment complex a short distance away.   

When the officers tried a third time to detain the suspect in the apartment complex doorway, the suspect immediately attacked both officers.  LAPD’s Force Investigation Division will be conducting a thorough investigation.  Preliminary information indicates that the officer’s were fighting for their lives.  During the fight the suspect repeatedly punched both officers in the face and head and at one point tried to take one of the officer’s guns.  That officer, a male Black, 17 months with LAPD shot the suspect to stop the attack.  The second officer, a male Asian, 5 years with LAPD, was physically battered and dazed during the incident.  The Officers took the suspect into custody and immediately called for medical assistance.  

Personnel from the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded and transported the wounded suspect to a local hospital where he died as the result of his injuries.

The injured officers were also transported to a local hospital.  One officer was treated for injuries to his ankle and face.  He was immediately released.  The second officer was hospitalized for a time and treated for injuries to his jaw and head.

LAPD Force Investigation Division personnel are investigating the officer involved shooting.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Force Investigation Division Detective John Roeda at 213- 486-5230. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.