Global Courant 2023-04-28 09:36:39
A combative arrest at a Los Angeles subway station on Thursday saw part of a finger bit off from a Los Angeles police sergeant, state department officials said.
Officials said the suspect who was detained also suffered minor injuries after officers used force when he resisted. Both the suspect and sergeant were taken to area hospitals for treatment; neither was publicly mentioned.
In a statement, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said he was “deeply disturbed by the vicious and horrific attack” on the sergeant and his police colleagues who were “just conducting routine patrols on the transit line.”
“We remain committed to our work every day to improve the safety of the entire transport system, with special patrols that call in those who pose a risk to the safety of others,” the statement said.
The incident occurred around 10:15 a.m. at an unspecified Red Line station, where officers saw a man boarding a train while carrying drug paraphernalia, according to a police press release. The officers spoke to the man and escorted him off the train, the release said. As they did so, according to the release, the man “became violent and fought with the officers,” prompting them to use force to detain him.
The suspect was later arrested on suspicion of mayhem and resisting an executive order. The Times was unable to immediately verify the LAPD’s account of the incident.
Two stabbings at Red Line stations in recent weeks have reignited passenger safety concerns on the system. The line runs between downtown and North Hollywood.
According to the annual crime report, Metro has seen a dramatic increase in violent crime, with a 24% increase in aggravated assault, robbery, rape and murder from 2021 to 2022. The Red Line had almost twice as many violent crimes, 687, as the next line, Blue, the report said.
At the same time, the number of passengers on the metro has fallen sharply in recent years. The total number of commuters rose 12% last year compared to 2021, but the estimated 57 million rail passengers were still well below the 93 million reported in 2019, Metro said. Notably, Red Line passenger numbers were 56% of pre-pandemic levels.
Times staff writer Nathan Solis contributed to this report.
