Full Notification

Today at approximately 7:30 a.m. a man carrying a duffel bag walked onto the Recreation Gold Course in the 5000 block of Deukmejian Drive and made statements to golfers that he had a gun in his bag and he might shoot someone today.

East Division Officers responded quickly to the location and found the suspect still walking on the golf course. Officers and the responding Sergeant formulated a tactical plan and attempted to contact the suspect. The suspect refused to follow the officer’s commands and he took off running through the golf course.

Officers gave chase fearing the suspect in fact had a gun and was going to hurt people. The suspect was reaching towards the bag, as if reaching for a gun, and saying, “Shoot Me!” Officers utilized a less than lethal tool to attempt to stop the suspect. The suspect was hit several times with rubber launchers, however they were ineffective and the suspect kept running. Officers were finally able to get close enough to the suspect and deployed the Taser, which was effective and they safely took him into custody. Turns out the suspect did not actually have a gun in the bag.

The suspect was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries. The suspect, identified as 53-year-old Richard Lavalle, has been booked on the charge of resisting arrest and will undergo a mental evaluation. Lavalle claims to have served time in the military, and served seventeen years in federal prison for bank robbery.

This was an extremely dangerous situation that could have easily resulted in an officer involved shooting. Thanks to the quick response, tactics and discipline of the responding officers and sergeant, this situation was safely resolved and the patrons could return to their Sunday golf!