Man Under Influence, Arrested near Police HQ

Los Angeles: Police arrested 44-year-old Terrence Adkins on April 8, 2007, after he tried to steal a car from an off-duty LAPD detention officer, who had just left work at the Parker Center Jail.

Around seven in the evening, citizens reported a black man causing a disturbance at Temple Street and Judge John Aiso Street, behind Parker Center. When Officer Joseph Cruz, 25, and his partner arrived, they saw Adkins kneeling on the hood of a passing motorist’s car, who was a detention officer at the LAPD jail.

When Adkins saw the officers, he jumped off the car and ran. The officers cornered Adkins near the bus bench and tried to arrest him. Officer Cruz ordered Adkins to lie down, which he did. As Cruz approached with his gun drawn, Adkins jumped up unexpectedly, hitting his head on the muzzle of the gun.

Adkins became combative and resisted arrest. Cruz and his partner used a Taser to stun Adkins, but the officers still had to fight Adkins before he would submit to arrest.

While neither officer was injured, Adkins was treated at the county hospital for minor injuries, related to the arrest, as well as apparent cocaine intoxication.

Adkins was booked for attempted carjacking. His bail was set at $100,000.

Adkins is a resident of South Gate.

Officer Cruz has just under 3 years with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Police department protocols requires Force Investigation Division to investigate the use of force because Adkins’ head was struck by the officer’s gun, even though the impact was inadvertent.