Officer-Involved Shooting in 77th Street Division NRF037-24ma

UPDATED
July 18, 2024 NRF037-24bb

On Thursday, July 18, 2024, the Chief of Police authorized the release of the officer’s name who was involved in an Officer Involved Shooting, that occurred on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in 77th Street Area.

The involved 77th Street Area Officer is Sergeant I Michael Pounds, Serial No. 33424.

Officer-Involved Shooting in 77th Street Division

**The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed**

Los Angeles: Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Force Investigation Division is investigating an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) that occurred in 77th Street Division.

On July 13, 2024, 77th Street Area plain clothes Vice officers were conducting a prostitution enforcement detail along the Figueroa Corridor. Around 10:24 p.m., one of the Vice units observed the occupants of a silver Cadillac wearing ski masks and in a possible dispute with the driver of another vehicle. That information was broadcast to other units in the area.

A Vice sergeant, who was driving by himself in an unmarked vehicle, saw the Cadillac and followed it as it traveled east on the 400 block of 66th Street. As the Cadillac approached the intersection with Flower Street, the Cadillac turned north and stopped across both lanes of traffic on 66th Street. Two male passengers of the Cadillac exited and simultaneously approached the front driver and passenger sides of the Vice sergeant’s vehicle, which stopped in the roadway to observe the Cadillac. An Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) occurred with the individual who approached the sergeant’s driver side door, later identified as Ricardo Ramirez. Ramirez was struck by gunfire and collapsed in the roadway. The other individual returned to the Cadillac and was driven out of the area.

Responding 77th Street uniformed officers initiated a pursuit of the Cadillac that was eventually taken over by the California Highway Patrol. The pursuit ended on the 15 Freeway in San Bernardino County, where three occupants were taken into custody without incident. The driver of the vehicle, 26-year-old Israel Dezama, was ultimately arrested for Felony Evading. Dezama’s booking number is 6846754. The other two occupants were later questioned and released.

The Los Angeles Fire Department transported Ramirez by rescue ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased a short time later. No officers or other community members were injured during this incident. No firearms or other weapons were recovered during the investigation.

Force Investigation Division (FID) investigators along with representatives from the California Department of Justice responded to the scene and are investigating this incident.