Suspect Stabs Officer Resulted in Shooting

August 19, 2008

Los Angeles: A Los Angeles Police Department SWAT officer was stabbed by a barricaded suspect and an Officer-Involved Shooting occurred.

On August 18, 2008, at around 1:20 PM, Southwest Area officers responded to the Wal-Mart at 4101 South Crenshaw Boulevard for a shoplifting suspect who had armed himself with scissors.  Upon arrival, the officers discovered the suspect had barricaded himself inside the security office on the second floor.

Metropolitan Division SWAT officers responded and made contact with the suspect and attempted to negotiate a safe resolution to the incident.  After negotiating with the suspect for several hours, SWAT Officers Guy Dobine and Neil Coward along with an element of SWAT officers, elected to make a tactical entry into the office.  As they did so, the suspect stabbed Officer Coward.  Officer Dobine fired one round at the suspect, but the suspect was not struck by the round, and was taken into custody.

Officer Coward was transported to Cedars-Sinai Hospital and was treated for a stab wound to his left hand.  The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was treated minor injuries that resulted during the incident.  He has been identified as Maurice Smith, 47, a resident of Los Angeles.

Officer Dobine has been with the Department for 15 years and Officer Coward with 21 years and 2 months.

Force Investigation Division personnel responded and are investigating the crime against the officers and the Officer-involved Shooting.