Full Notification

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department detectives from Internal Affairs Bureau are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding two Deputy-Involved (Non-Hit) Shootings, which occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2015, at 246th Place and Pennsylvania Avenue, Lomita, at approximately 2:07 A.M.

Detectives learned that deputies from Lomita Sheriff’s Station responded to the intersection to investigate a “person screaming” call for service.  As the first arriving deputy exited his patrol vehicle, the suspect (sole occupant and driver), drove his speeding vehicle toward the deputy.  In order to avoid being hit and seriously injured or killed by the suspect, the deputy jumped out of the way.  As the deputy did so, the suspect rammed the patrol vehicle three times.

The suspect continued his assault, driving over the curb and through several bushes, still attempting to run over the deputy.  As the suspect chased the deputy at a high rate of speed, a Deputy-Involved Shooting occurred.

The suspect’s vehicle was struck by gunfire, but the suspect was not hit.  In an attempt to flee the scene, the suspect sped through several front lawns of the residential area. In doing so, he drove his vehicle directly toward a nearby second deputy, who also responded to the “person screaming” call.  As the vehicle sped toward the second deputy, she jumped out of the way to avoid being hit and seriously injured or killed.  At that time, a second Deputy-Involved Shooting occurred.  The suspect’s vehicle was struck; however, the suspect was not hit.

The suspect continued eastbound from the location, approximately one-quarter of a mile, before he sped over a curb, between two residential homes, crashed through a back yard fence and ultimately collided into a camper where individuals were sleeping.

The deputies subdued the suspect and an immediate welfare check of the individuals inside the camper revealed that although there was significant damage to the area, the individuals inside the camper did not suffer any injuries.

The suspect, Mario Morales, a male Hispanic adult and resident of Lomita, was transported to a local hospital for medical attention.  He faces criminal charges, including Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Peace Officer.

The investigation is on-going and there is no additional information available at this time.

Whenever an Officer-Involved Shooting occurs involving Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies, and the suspect(s) is not wounded, multiple investigations immediately begin at the scene.  These include separate investigations by the Sheriff's Internal Affairs Bureau as well as Sheriff's station or Detective Division investigators.  The Office of the Inspector General is also notified.  Once concluded, every aspect of the shooting is reviewed by the Sheriff's Executive Force Review Committee.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Internal Affairs Bureau at (323) 890-5300 or Lomita Sheriff’s Station Watch Commander at (310) 539-1661.  If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Authored by:

Juanita Navarro-Suarez, Deputy

Lilian Peck, Deputy

Sheriff's Information Bureau - Newsroom

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

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Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Jim McDonnell, Sheriff

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

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Original press release is as follows:

_________________________________________________

TITLE: Deputy-Involved (Non-Hit) Shooting, Suspect In-Custody, 246^th Place/Pennsylvania Avenue, Lomita, #LASD Internal Affairs Bureau

DATE: Sunday, January 18, 2015        

TIME: 2:10 AM  

LOCATION: 246^th Place and Pennsylvania Avenue, Lomita

SUSPECT: Male-Adult

UNIT: LASD Internal Affairs Bureau, Lieutenant Flores

NARRATIVE:

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Internal Affairs Bureau detectives are en route to 246^th Place and Pennsylvania Avenue, Lomita, to investigate the circumstances surrounding a Deputy-Involved Shooting.  The suspect was not struck by gunfire and was taken into custody.

There is no further information available at this time.

Whenever an Officer-Involved Shooting occurs involving Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, and the suspect(s) is not wounded, multiple investigations immediately begin at the scene.  These include separate investigations by the Sheriff's Internal Affairs Bureau as well as Sheriff's station or Detective Division investigators.  The Office of the Inspector General is also notified.  Once concluded, every aspect of the shooting is reviewed by the Sheriff's Executive Force Review Committee.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Internal Affairs Bureau at (323) 890-5300.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Crystal Hernandez, Deputy

Harry Drucker, Sergeant

Sheriff's Information Bureau - Newsroom

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

323-267-4800

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lasd.org

LASD HQ Text and Emails: www.Nixle.com

http://nixle.com/lasd----hq-newsroom-shb-los-angeles-county-sheriff/

Twitter: @LASD_News http://twitter.com/#!/LASD_News

Twitter: @LASDtalk https://twitter.com/LASDTalk

Twitter: @LASDvideos https://twitter.com/LASDvideos

Facebook LASD HQ: http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment

LASD Photos: http://pinterest.com/lacountysheriff/

LASD YouTube Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/LACountySheriff/videos?view=0

Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Jim McDonnell, Sheriff

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

To receive more detailed, up-to-date information directly from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) via e-mail, register for "Nixle" alerts at www.Nixle.com or more directly at https://local.nixle.com/register/ and register for "LASD – Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff" and your local LASD station area. Or, text your zip code to 888777 to receive text alerts only. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan.