hello my name is Captain Kelly mise commanding officer of media relations division of the Los Angeles Police Department this critical incident Community briefing is intended to provide you with information about a categorical use of force resulting from a can9 contact that occurred in devire division in the city of Los Angeles on October 28th 2023 at around 12:30 a.m. you're about to see relevant video footage and learn about other evidence and police procedures related to the case so you can have a better understanding of what occurred based on what we know right now the LAPD conducts very thorough use of force investigations which typically require investigators to interview multiple Witnesses view numerous hours of video footage and analyze a significant amount of forensic evidence we are still at the very early stages of this investigation which can often take up to a year to complete and our understanding of the incident may change as this additional evidence is collected analyzed and reviewed we also do not draw any conclusions about whether the officers acted consistent with our policies in the law until all the facts are known and the investigation is complete a word of caution the images and information you're about to see may be disturbing when a police officer uses Force to arrest a suspect or defend a in an attack it can be graphic and difficult to watch in addition there may be strong language used by those shown in the video viewer discretion is advised especially for young children and sensitive viewers deer Patrol Division officers were in the area of danub Avenue and Horus Street when they saw a gray Nissan sport utility vehicle with five occupants being driven nearby the officers conducted a licensed plate query on the Nissan and confirmed that the vehicle had been reported stolen the driver of the stolen vehicle was later identified as Andrew Valdez as the officers began to follow the stolen Nissan westbound on Tulsa Street they requested the assistance of an air unit additional Patrol units and a supervisor here is the initial radio broadcast1 can have a backup supervisor please show me following CL 37 vehicle Southie through Horus the vehicle is a gray Nissan coup Nissan hatchback let place any the requesting backup air unit and supervisor following code 37 southbound hor on a GRE Ean C next47 repeat the plate we're going to be westbound Tulsa through dity 17 x91 is westbound Tulsa through Dy 173 show responding to the backup 171 there appears to be multiple heads multiple occupants in the vehicle all if it goes to Pursuit I authorize three additional units 17 X1 Contin West found through dinner multiple OCC occupants in the vehicle foring three additional units 17x the back up what's their location1 we're on Tulsa and Woodley stand prodction 17x 91 is now on Tulsa and Woodley we're going apprach we're be entering the 118 Westbound from wle Valdez refused to to stop entered the 118 freeway accelerated away from the officers at a high rate of speed and attempted to flee the officers activated their police vehicles emergency lights and siren and initiated a vehicle Pursuit moments later while exiting the 18 freeway and attempting to turn onto Tampa Avenue Valdez collided against the sidewalk at the intersection of Tampa Avenue and the 118 freeway overpass following the Collision Valdez emerged from the Nissan and fled on foot the four additional occupants of the Nissan also emerged from the Nissan but were taken into custody without further incident the officers lost sight of Valdez established a perimeter around the surrounding area and identified a location where Valdez had last been seen notifications were then made to Metropolitan Division K9 who responded shortly thereafter and assisted devire officers in formulating a plan to resolve the situation prior to commencing their search officers made repeated attempts to have aldez peacefully Surrender by giving him several warnings in both English and Spanish over loudspeakers that the canine dog would be used to find him and the use of the dog could possibly result in a bite however Valdez did not comply with the officer's commands to surrender during the subsequent can9 search the dog located Valdez hiding in a near nearby Shrubbery resulting in a k9 contact Valdez was subsequently taken into custody without further incident a portion of this incident was captured on the responding officer's digital incar video most marked Vehicles assigned to patrol have a camera mounted inside which activates when the emergency lights are turned on the camera can also be manually activated these digital incard cameras have a buffer of video without audio upon activation the camera goes back 1 minute and starts recording here is digital incar video from the officers involved in this incident [Music] [Music] frequency stand by 17 x91 is in Pursuit what 118 what 6 pleas no copy H initiating on tracking continuing westbound passing [Music] W me around [Music] monit is tracking the vle [Music] passing onest up on 100 Mil hour light traffic V continuing westbound on re 100 m hour just pass West on the 11 is8 CP 16 approaching Campa stand by going to be exiting Tampa stand by for the suspect isting Tampa a suspect PC on the off ramp and Tampa the 118 freway [Music] standby the [ __ ] at Tampa heyer one un on the on theeway get unit to stay off the freeway just pass the over yellow shirt dark pants just west of the8 get on your stomach get on your stomach turn around get on your stomach off the off the freeway here code guys right hand turn come down the turn around right there hold right there guys right there a portion of this incident was also captured on the responding officer's body warn video body warn video cameras are used by most officers assigned to field duties they are worn at chess level and capture a general perspective within line of s from that angle the angle of the camera prohibits viewers from seeing everything the officers saw and experienced upon activation both audio and video will turn on however bodyw war video cameras have a buffer of video without audio from the previous 2 minutes prior to activation this feature is designed to capture incidents that occur suddenly where an officer doesn't immediately activate the camera here is body warn video from the officers involved in this incident this is the Los Angeles Police Department we are searching for a suspect and are preparing to use a police dog for your safety please go inside your home or business and stay inside until we have completed our search to the person or persons who are hiding from the police make your location known to us immediately put down all weapons come out with your hands raised and follow directions if you do not a police dog will be used to find you when the dog finds you do not move or you may be bitten you have one minute to surrender adise [Music] 17 watch watch they being held over in the perimeter of for all right get some cover get some cover stop fo ready all right start crawling towards us we're going to take care of you but you got to come crawl towards us come on over we're going to get you an ambulance come on CW over here towards my voice all right just come down to your knees down to your knees your knees go down to your knees on your back okay we're going to take care of you put your arms on your back being arrested for put your arms on your back what am I being arrested for we're going to expl everything but I'm going to make sure you get an ambulance [ __ ] is going on I'm going to make sure you get an ambulance okay I'm going to wrap your arm okay what the [ __ ] and then we can TR okay it's just it's just flaing skin is all that is yeah we'll put it back yeah it's going to be fine you're going to switch it right here I got it you got for by yeah no okay hang tight okay what the [ __ ] did I do to deserve this the ambulance is on its way it's I know I know it's horrible I know Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics transported Valdez to a local hospital where he was treated by medical staff for the injuries he sustained during the K9 contact while there medical staff determined that the injuries Valdez sustained required admittance to the hospital Valdez was arrested for felony evading and absentee booked at Valley Jail Division Department policy defines a k9 bite or contact which results in an injury requiring hospitalization as a categorical use of force in accordance with that policy lapd's Force investigation division assumed investigative responsibility for this incident upon learning of the hospitalization the stolen Nissan was impounded and subsequently returned to the registered owner the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office has determined that there is insufficient evidence for filing pending corology results Andrew Valdez is an 18-year-old resident of Los Angeles as a part of the investigatory process a Pursuit investigation was initiated this Pursuit investigation will be reviewed by the department upon completion for adherence to the law and Department policy in the next several months the LAPD will continue to investigate and analyze this incident we will continue interviewing any new witnesses that may come forward and complete any forensic tests after the investigation is complete our critical incident review division will forward their findings to the chief of police who will make his recommendation to the civilian Board of police Commissioners the board will evaluate the evidence to determine whether the officer's tactics and use of force in this instance meant the high standards expected of all Los Angeles police officers if you would like more information on how the LAPD investigates all serious uses of force visit lapdonline.org where you can find the lapd's use of force policy and procedures thank you for taking the time to view this critical incident Community briefing