The Los Angeles Police Department today released surveillance and body camera footage from last month's unprovoked attack on an office...
The Los Angeles Police Department today released surveillance and body camera footage from last month's unprovoked attack on an officer, in which the suspect pistol-whipped the cop and attempted to shoot him with his own gun.
Video made public by the agency shows the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Jose Cerpa Guzman, arriving at LAPD's Harbor Community Police Station in a white Chevy pickup truck on the night of September 26, and confronting a desk officer.
Guzman, wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a floral design, is seen in the recordings acting agitated and having some words with the officer, identified as Anthony Freeman.
A Los Angles Police Department desk officer was nearly killed on September 26 after an assailant, Jose Guzman (pictured) walked into Harbor Community police station in San Pedro just after 10pm and attacked him
Body camera video released by the LAPD on Wednesday shows the violent confrontation between Guzman, 29, and officer Anthony Freeman
During a struggle in the lobby, Guzman pulled the officer's gun out of his holster and tried to shoot him from a point-blank range, according to police
Freeman is pictured dripping blood after being repeatedly pistol-whipped in the head by the suspect during the unprovoked attack
After that initial interaction, Guzman heads for the door. But moments after leaving he returns, advances on Freeman, takes a swing and punches him in the face with a closed fist, causing him to fall backwards.
A brief struggle ensues, during which the assailant pulls the officer's service weapon out of the holster, as clearly seen in the body camera video.
The officer tries to grab the man’s arm in order to prevent him from shooting the gun.
As the two wrestle, the assailant manages to point the gun directly at the officer’s midsection from just a few inches away.
Moments later, the assailant gets his arm loose and begins to hit the officer in the face and head with the butt of the handgun at least four times.
The officer puts his hands up to protect himself from the blows. Eventually, he knocks the gun out of the assailant’s hands.
After the gun falls to the floor, the assailant grabs it again.
Guzman trains the gun on Freeman and apparently pulls the trigger several times, but no shot is fired because the safety is still on.
The officer then tries to grab the assailant, but he manages to get away and move toward the door.
The suspect then flees, leaving the injured officer drenched in blood.
As Watch Commander Robin Aguirre rushes after Guzman, he takes the safety off and fires three shots that nearly strike her, sending her to seek cover behind a seating area in the lobby.
She returns fire once and radios in, 'Shots fired!'
Guzman arrived at the police station in a white Chevy pickup truck and walked inside to confront the desk officer
Surveillance video shows the suspect and Freeman having a brief exchange, before he walks out the door, only to return moments later
Guzman advances on the cop and takes a swing at him, punching Freeman in the face with a closed fist, as seen in the footage
Freeman collapses to the floor and a struggle ensues, during which Guzman grabs hold of his service weapon
Police say Guzman pulled the trigger several times, attempting to shoot Freeman from a point-blank range. The gun did not fire because the safety was still on
Freeman called for backup, and officer Robin Agguire pursued the fleeing suspect
Guzman took the safety off the gun and opened fire, sending Aguirre scrambling to take cover behind a bench
Towards the end of the body camera recording, Freeman is seen dripping blood all over the floor and asks his colleagues to call an ambulance, saying, 'I am starting to black out.'
Additional footage released by the police on Wednesday shows officers chasing Guzman and taking him into custody a few blocks away from the station at Pacific Avenue and 17th Street.
One officer suffered a broken finger during a struggle with the suspect, who was heard wailing and howling on a body camera recording.
A loaded 9mm Berretta semi-automatic pistol was recovered from Guzman’s vehicle, as seen in a photo released by police.
Guzman was treated for minor scrapes and booked into jail on charges of attempted murder of a peace officer, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, fleeing and resisting an officer, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Guzman made his initial appearance in court last week and was ordered held on $2.23million bail.
Police chased Guzman and cornered him at Pacific Avenue and 17th Street just after 10pm
The 29-year-old is seen being taken into custody after a brief struggle with cops
Officer Freeman was treated for non-life-threatening lacerations to the head at a hospital and later released.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore said Freeman was recovering at home.
Guzman was charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, fleeing and resisting an officer
‘I am grateful that the officer who was in this incident tonight, who was working the desk, came out to assist this individual to understand what his needs were, that he survived and that during this engagement that he did not lose his life,’ Moore said.
‘He did not suffer the injury that apparently this suspect meant to inflict.’
The LAPD has not stated what it believes to be Guzman’s motive for the attack.
Craig Lally, who heads the union that represents LAPD officers, compared the attack to the recent shooting ambush in Compton that targeted deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
‘It just shows you how dangerous this job is now,’ Lally said.
‘You don’t even have to be responding to a call now. You can just be sitting in a car in a uniform or sitting at a desk in a uniform and get attacked.’
He appeared in court last week and was ordered held on $2.23million bail
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