Suspect Accelerates Van at Officer in Attempt to Evade Arrest NR12500ne

Update:
November 7, 2012

The officer involved in the below officer-involved shooting has been identified as
Police Officer II Tom Appleby.

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating the suspect that attempted to run over a police officer.

On October 30, 2012, Van Nuys officers responded to the corner at Hazeltine Avenue and Riverside Drive to an unrelated radio call.  When the officers arrived they saw a man running northbound in the parking lot being chased by two employees from a nearby business.

The officers observed the suspect manipulating his waistband as he was running and they began chasing the suspect on foot.  The suspect entered a white, late 90’s, Chevrolet Astro van and accelerated the van at one of the officers, striking one officer, at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred.

The suspect was able to drive away in his Astro Van.  He is described as a male, white, in his late 30’s.

Los Angeles Police Department Force Investigation Division (FID) responded 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.

Anyone with information is asked to call Force Investigation Division at 213-486-5230. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.