Bicycle Investigation Results in Officers Being Fired Upon

Los Angeles: On Saturday, December 6, 2003, at about 9:45 p.m., Hollenbeck Area patrol Officers Carlos De La Cruz and Rudolph Rivera were working in the area of 2nd Street and Fresno Street when they attempted to stop a bicyclist for a traffic violation. The officers directed the suspect (described as a male Hispanic in his mid-twenties) to stop, he looked in their direction and fled on the bike. A few moments later, he abandoned the bike, ran down a lengthy driveway and pushed past a fence.

As the officers chased him on foot, the suspect turned toward the officers and fired two shots from a small caliber handgun and then disappeared between the houses. As rain began to fall, officers from the K-9 and SWAT units of Metropolitan Division, searched for the suspect without success.

Hollenbeck Area Detectives Gang Unit along with Robbery Homicide Division are investigating this incident.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Robbery-Homicide Detectives, at 213-485-2129. On weekend and during off-hours, contact the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

This news release was prepared by Public Information Officer Sandra Escalante, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.