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Via youtube.com
An off-duty Los Angeles police officer this week pulled out a handgun and fired at least one shot during a confrontation with several teenagers.
In cell phone video that shows the altercation, which occurred Tuesday afternoon about 25 miles away in Anaheim, the officer is tugging and holding on to a 13-year-old boy in a residential area while a group of other teens try to pull the teenager free.
At one point in the video, a teenager with a red backpack runs into the officer, knocking him over some bushes. Another teenager appears to take a swing at the officer.
The officer, who is wearing dark sunglasses, jeans, and an unbuttoned blue shirt, then pulls out a handgun from his waistband.
The officer can be seen struggling with one of the teenagers, trying to drag him out of some bushes and still holding the gun with one of his hands when a shot is heard.
The confrontation was the result of an ongoing dispute the off-duty officer had with teenagers walking on his lawn, Anaheim Police Sgt. Daron Wyatt told BuzzFeed News.
No one was injured by the gun, but Los Angeles police officials told BuzzFeed News they are conducting an administrative review of the incident. The officer, who has not been identified, was not taken into custody and is cooperating with the investigation, Anaheim police said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the two teenagers involved in the altercation were arrested.
Wyatt said the 13-year-old was arrested on suspicion of battery and making criminal threats against the off-duty officer, including threatening to shoot him.
The teen was taken to Orange County Juvenile Hall and released Wednesday.
The 15-year-old was taken into custody on suspicion of misdemeanor assault and battery, and was released to his parents.
The teenagers were not identified because they are minors.
Los Angeles police officials said an administrative review was being conducted, but did not offer any other details on the incident or the officer.
Wyatt said because shots were fired, LAPD homicide detectives are reviewing the incident, and are looking at possible criminal charges.
“The LAPD is doing their own independent investigation that will focus on their action and procedures, but we're looking at possible criminal culpability,” he said.
Anaheim police said they have been receiving calls from people upset about the video from across the US, with email inboxes and department voicemail boxes for administrators have been clogged.
“My cell phone, my desk phone is full,” he said.
On their Facebook page, the department asked people not to leave messages critical of the incident.
“Calling and sending emails to APD voicing your displeasure will NOT impact the outcome,” the statement read.
“We're not taking this incident lightly,” Wyatt said. “We're investigating it fully and the district attorney's office, they'll make the determination whether charges are filed or not.”
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