Armed and Violent Suspect Eludes Capture for Two Hours NR09198jl

Los Angeles:  A suspect armed with a handgun ran from responding officers and eluded capture for two hours.

On April 17, 2009, at around 7 p.m., Northeast Area patrol officers responded to a "Man with a Gun" radio call at 1169 South Hoover Street.  Upon arrival, the officers observed the suspect on a bicycle with a gun in his waistband.  The suspect fled and a perimeter was established.  K-9 officers and an LAPD airship assisted in a search that took over two hours.  

During the search, the officers located the suspect inside a bedroom of a single family home at 1164 Commonwealth Avenue.  When the suspect refused to comply with the officers, a bean bag was deployed twice, striking the suspect on his side and buttocks area.  The suspect then charged the officer and was struck on the head with the butt of the bean bag shotgun.  The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

The suspect was examined at Kaiser Hospital and was released and booked at Metropolitan Jail 12021.5 (A) PC, ex-con in possession of a firearm.  A semi-automatic Tec-9 was recovered at the scene.  The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Luis Ibarra.

Involved officer is Richard Gadsby who has been with the Department for 13 years and 8 months.

Force Investigation Division was notified and is conducting the head strike investigation.  Northeast Detective Division is investigating the weapons charge.  A parole hold was placed on the suspect.