Attempt Murder Subject is Bitten by LAPD K9 NR12316ne

Los Angeles:  A subject wanted for attempt murder, barricades himself and is bitten by LAPD K9.

On March 11, 2012 around 6:45 p.m., Metropolitan Division, including members of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and K9 officers responded to the 4100 block of Woodlawn Avenue at the request of Newton Gang Detectives.  A subject wanted for attempted murder was believed to be barricaded at the Woodlawn location.

Numerous advertisements and warnings, both in English and in Spanish, were broadcasted to the subject, ordering him to exit the home.  After these warnings went unheeded, tear gas was deployed into the location.  Again, the subject did not exit.

After several hours in this standoff, K9 resources were utilized.  At around 10:45 p.m., Police Officer III Christopher Amador ordered his dog to make entry into the location.  Hearing his dog alert to the presence of a possible threat, Officer Amador and SWAT officers entered the location.  Upon entry, Officer Amador observed his canine restraining the subject.  The subject was then taken into custody with further incident.

The subject, a 16 year-old minor, was transported to a local hospital where he was admitted for treatment for a K9 contact.  He was booked for the attempted murder charge and was being held in the jail ward section of the hospital.

Force Investigation Division responded and is investigating the K9 contact.  Newton Gang detectives are handling the attempted murder allegation.

The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Office of the Inspector General and Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Department’s use-of-force policy which states that an officer’s use-of-force actions must be objectively reasonable.