Burglary Suspect Resists Arrest, Resulting in an Officer Involved Shooting NR12525cj

Los Angeles: On Saturday, November 24, 2012, around 10:30 p.m., LAPD North Hollywood Area patrol officers were responding to a radio call of a burglary suspect at Victory Boulevard and Vineland Avenue.

Upon arrival the officers tracked the suspect, Nathan Melara, to the rear of the store, located in the 10900 block of Victory Boulevard.  As the officers attempted to detain Melara, he picked up a section of wood and quickly advanced toward the officers.  The officers directed Melara to drop the  board described as a 2×4, Melara refused to comply and then swung the board at Police Officer II David Nguyen at which time an officer involved shooting occurred.  Melara dropped the board and ran toward a locked chain link fence which he attempted to climb.  Officer Nguyen, his partner and additional back up officers were able to overcome Melara’s resistance and take him into custody.    

During the arrest, Melara struck one of the officers several times in the head with a closed fist.  That officer along with two other officers were treated for minor injuries and released.  Melara was transported to a local hospital and treated for a gunshot wound and is in stable condition.

Los Angeles Police Department Force Investigation Division (FID) responded to the incident and will be handling the investigation of the officer-involved shooting.  

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