Suspect Wounded After Attempting to Burn Officer

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, April 19, 1999

On Friday, April 16, 1999, at approximately 11:30 AM, Central Area uniformed Patrol Division Officers responded to a request to backup the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Deputies at 700 block of South Broadway, on the second floor.

The officers responded to the location and met several deputies serving an eviction notice on Isac Ieseanu, a male White, 67 years of age, and a tenant in rooms 226 and 227 at the location. The officers were informed by the deputies that Ieseanu had refused to cooperate, had started several small fires and would not exit his apartment. In addition, Ieseanu sprayed several deputies with gasoline and had thrown burning debris through holes in his door at them.

Although gasoline fumes and smoke filled the air, the officers gained entry into the apartment. One of the officers located Ieseanu who sprayed the officer in the face with gasoline while he held a flaming object in his free hand. The officer, fearing he was about to be engulfed in flames, fired his service pistol at Ieseanu. The suspect sustained a gunshot wound and was taken into custody without further incident.

Los Angeles City Fire Department Paramedics responded and transported the suspect to the Los Angeles County USC Medical Center where he was treated for his wound. Ieseanu was booked into the Jail Ward for attempt murder on a police officer.

The officer was transported by Rescue Ambulance to California Medical Center where he was treated for gasoline in his eye and released.

Robbery-Homicide Division is conducting the investigation.

For Release 3:05 p.m. PDT
April 19, 1999