A Los Angeles Police Department officer, who is under investigation for allegedly assaulting a trespassing suspect during an altercation in Boyle Heights, has been involved in three on-duty shootings, it was reported Wednesday.
The officer was identified to the Los Angeles Times as Frank Hernandez, and he has been with the LAPD for more than 20 years, The Times reported. The LAPD said the department could not identify the officer due to state law.
Hernandez, and another Hollenbeck Division officer, responded to the 2400 block of Houston Street, near Soto Street, on April 27, where they located a man trespassing on private property and directed him to leave, according to an LAPD statement issued late Monday.
During the investigation, a fight broke out between the suspect and one officer and the officer sustained a minor hand injury and the suspect had cuts to his head and face, but refused medical attention, according to the statement.
A supervisor was called to the scene and a witness who had seen a portion of the fight gave the supervisor a copy of a cellphone video, the statement said.
“Upon review of the content of the cellphone video and the involved officer’s body worn video, the supervisor notified his commanding officer and investigators of the Internal Affairs Group responded to conduct a personnel complaint investigation,” police said.
The suspect was released from custody, pending further investigation, the department said.
A formal investigation was begun and the Hernandez was assigned to home duty pending the results of the investigation, police said.
According to The Times, Hernandez shot and killed a Guatemalan day laborer after the man allegedly drunkenly wielded a knife and threatened two women in the Westlake area in September 2010. The suspect had allegedly lunged at officers.
Hernandez also shot 18-year-old Joseph Wolf two years earlier while chasing an armed suspect, according to The Times.
Wolf was not involved in the initial incident, but police said he ignored orders and pointed a gun at officers. Wolf was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, but charges were dropped, The Times reported.
Wolf alleged officers fabricated the charges in an attempt to cover up Hernandez using deadly force, according to The Times.
Hernandez also shot a robbery suspect in South Los Angeles in 2009, The Times reported. The suspect had allegedly pointed a gun at Hernandez.
On Tuesday, LAPD Chief Michel Moore tweeted the following:
“Over the past several days there have been incidents reported in the news that are clearly not consistent with the core values of the Los Angeles Police Department. My pledge to you, is that when these instances occur and we fall short of your expectations there will be a thorough investigation. I intend to take a clear-eyed view and hold individuals accountable for behavior that is inconsistent with the high standards of this organization.”
The tweet appeared to refer to the Boyle Heights arrest, and also to a weekend incident in which an off-duty LAPD officer allegedly shot and wounded another off-duty LAPD officer during a camping trip in San Bernardino County.
That officer has been charged with assault with a firearm.