Burglary Suspect Injured Resisting Arrest NR09214ne

Los Angeles: On April 3, 2009, at around 11:30 p.m., Police Officer III Roy Guthrie, 20 years and seven months with the Department and Police Officer I Reynaldo Solorzano, one year and three months with the Department, received a radio call about people chasing a burglary suspect.

When officers arrived, they saw a citizen holding the suspect with a bear hug.  As officers exited their vehicle, the citizen released the suspect.  Officers then gave the suspect several verbal orders, but he failed to obey.  They approached the suspect and used a firm grip to walk him over to the front of their police vehicle, but while attempting to handcuff the suspect, he began to physically resist them.  Officers utilized a maneuver known as a foot sweep to take the suspect to the ground, but he continued to resist; so Officer Guthrie struck the suspect twice.  Consequently, the suspect stopped resisting and was taken into custody without further incident.

The suspect, who was booked for burglary from a motor vehicle, was transported to a local hospital and treated.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is conducting an investigation into the incident, and the LAPD  Foothill Detective Division will be handling the criminal prosecution of the suspect.