By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
LOS ANGELES — On Aug. 9, a man was arrested after he stole a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power vehicle and led LAPD officers on a pursuit that ended with a standoff.
A month later, on Sept. 9, the LAPD released intense dash cam and body-worn camera videos capturing the incident. Multiple videos released by the LAPD show the suspect, identified as Manuel Ramirez, ramming into several cruisers before he sped away in the stolen government SUV.
Ramirez led officers on a pursuit onto the 5 Freeway, KTLA reports. He tried to ram more officers and other drivers before getting off the freeway and pulling into a multi-business parking lot.
Following the arrival of officers in the lot behind him, Ramirez directed the SUV toward them and accelerated, deliberately colliding with the doors of two police cruisers and a nearby van. As the suspect just barely missed the officers and other cruisers, shots were fired at him.
Ramirez eventually stopped driving and a pair of SWAT vehicles reached the location, effectively cornering the suspect. The officers opened fire on Ramirez, resulting in numerous bullet holes adorning the windshield and the driver’s side door of the vehicle with no visible tires.
Officers set up a perimeter and avoided approaching the vehicle as the driver was armed with a small-caliber handgun as well as a screwdriver.
As the standoff continued, the man’s erratic movements within the SUV continued. He leaned out of the rear windshield and smeared blood onto the trunk door. The man began to throw objects at SWAT officers and continued behaving erratically, police said.
The standoff extended for an additional hour, during which Ramirez climbed on top of the SUV. He was shirtless, wearing only a pair of pants stained with blood. Not long after, SWAT officers apprehended him.
LAPD said three officers were injured, including one with injuries that were considered to be serious. One officer was treated at the scene, while two others were taken to the hospital.
The suspect was also taken to the hospital for a gunshot wound and later released. Ramirez was charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer.