Officers Use Force to Break Up A Fight in Hollywood NR11136cn

Los Angeles:  On March 18, 2011, at around 11:45pm, Hollywood Patrol Division responded to a request for additional officers for a group fight on Hollywood Boulevard at Highland Avenue.  

When the officers arrived, they were led down to the Metro Redline subway station.  There the officers saw a fight involving numerous males.  While the officers tried to break up the fight and take the individuals into custody, a juvenile turned and punched one of the officers.  In response, Officers used force to get him under control.  The juvenile was then handcuffed and taken into custody.

After being handcuffed, Sergeant Rudy Vidal approached the juvenile to speak with him, and the juvenile spat in Sergeant Vidal’s face.  The juvenile was then put on the ground and a Restraint Device was used to immobilize his hands and feet.   

Officers involved in the incident were Sergeant I Rudy Vidal, 30 years with the Department; Police Officers II Chase Lambert, 3 years 11 months with the Department, Police Officer Brian Polen, 3 years 7 months with the Department and Police Officer Ruben De La Torre, Serial No. 39264, 3 years with the Department.

The Los Angeles City Fire Department arrived and took the juvenile to Kaiser Sunset Hospital where he was diagnosed with a hematoma to the back of the brain.  The juvenile was later taken to Los Angeles County Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition.

Force Investigation Division detectives responded and are investigating the use of force.

Note:  The preliminary investigation showed that the juvenile had been in a fight earlier in the evening in the area of Hollywood High School with an unknown Black male.  The juvenile told the investigators that during this fight, he believed he was kicked in the back of the head.