On Thursday, August 10, 2006 at 7:31 AM, seven Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, ten LAFD Rescue Ambulances, three EMS Battalion Captains, two Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, and support of the local Red Cross, all under the direction of Battalion Chief Peter Benesch responded to a Barricaded Suspect at 29th St. and Maple Av. in South Los Angeles/Newton.

Firefighters arrived to support the Los Angeles Police Department in mitigating a situation involving a barricaded suspect inside of a two-story single family home. The suspect, a despondent paraplegic with a rifle, was barricaded on the first floor as the hostage remained trapped on the second floor. After hours of negotiations, the hostage was released unharmed.

LAPD SWAT officers and Negotiators worked tirelessly in an effort to resolve the situation without using deadly force or jeopardizing officers or the community. Approximately 50 individuals were evacuated to a safe location and provided shelter and food by the Red Cross. Over the course of 20 hours, teams of Firefighters and Paramedics were rotated into the command post in an effort to reduce fatigue and still provide adequate resources in the event of any conflagration.

As SWAT officers were observing the suspect, they took advantage of a momentary period of inattentiveness when the suspect dropped the rifle, to storm the home and secure the suspect without harm or injury to him or the officers involved. The suspect was placed into protective custody and transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation by the LAPD.

Any further requests for information should be directed to the Los Angeles Police Department. Over the course of the incident, over 60 Firefighters and dozens of Law Enforcement officials took part in the successful conclusion of this incident.

Submitted by Ron Myers, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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