Law Enforcement Related Injury (LERI) NRF029-20dm

On May 30, 2020, around 2:00 p.m., a spontaneous demonstration occurred in the area of 3rd Street and Edinburgh Avenue. Officers assigned to Metropolitan Division were deployed to the area to regain order. A dispersal order was given via a bull horn at 2:17 p.m., but the protesters refused to leave the area. One of the protesters, Bradley Steyn, verbally confronted an officer on the skirmish line. Shortly thereafter, another unidentified protester leapt in the air and threw an empty 37mm canister at officers. Simultaneously, suspect Steyn lifted his right knee and kicked an officer causing him to fall onto his back. Another officer who was assigned to one of the linebacker positions on the skirmish line was armed with a 40-millimeter Less Lethal Launcher and observed the officer being assaulted. The linebacker immediately fired one round at suspect Steyn. The round struck Steyn in the lower portion of his torso/groin area. Suspect Steyn turned and fled the location.

On May 30, 2020, around 4:00 p.m., suspect Steyn was admitted to Cedar-Sinai Hospital for an injury described by Steyn as a ruptured left testicle. According to Steyn, part of his testicle was removed during a subsequent surgery.

Investigative responsibilities regarding this incident were originally assigned to the Safe LA Task Force (CF #20-001860). When a preponderance of the existing evidence revealed that suspect Steyn had likely been admitted into the hospital due to injuries received during the incident, the investigation was classified as a Categorical Use of Force (LERI) and reassigned to Force Investigation Division (FID). Robbery Homicide Division (RHD) is handling the criminal portion of the investigation.

The officer who was assaulted during the incident injured his right elbow and back when he fell to the ground.