Man Falls to His Death – NR14257ne

Los Angeles:  LAPD Central Division officers responded to a call of a trespass suspect on a business rooftop.

On May 24, 2014, around 8:30 a.m., patrol personnel responded to a call of a trespass suspect on a business rooftop.  Patrol personnel contacted a male Hispanic, later identified as Carlos Ocana, on top of a billboard located above the roof of 500 S. San Pedro Street.  The officers requested Ocana to descend from the billboard but he refused to comply.  Ocana descended from the billboard onto the rooftop.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded and deployed an airbag beneath Ocana as a safety precaution.

The officers requested the assistance of Metropolitan Division, Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT).  At around 11:00 a.m., Metropolitan Division Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) responded and assumed tactical command of the incident.

Ocana then attempted to climb the ladder attached to the billboard.  A SWAT officer used the TASER in an attempt to subdue Ocana and keep him from climbing back up on the billboard.  As SWAT officers attempted to grab onto Ocana they lost grip of him resulting in Ocana falling off of the rooftop and onto the ground below.  Ocana missed the airbag and sustained a head injury.  Ocana was transported to USCMC where he succumbed to his injuries.

During the attempted rescue of Ocana, an officer sustained a laceration to the left thumb and was treated and released.  No other officers were injured.

Force Investigation Division detectives are handling the investigation of the law-enforcement- related death.

The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, Office of the Inspector General, and the Board of Police Commissioners.  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.

Anyone with information is asked to call Force Investigation Division 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 Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers 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.