Police Arrest Burglary Suspect in Harbor Area

Los Angeles:  Police in San Pedro arrested 24-year-old Moses Grajeda after a violent, hand-to-hand struggle early Tuesday morning, November 21, 2006.

Neighbors called police around 3:15 A.M. after seeing Grajeda prowling around cars in the 800 block of West 34th Street.  A police sergeant made the first contact with Grajeda, who tried to walk away.  The sergeant and two more officers caught up to Grajeda as he tried to climb over the fence of an elevated courtyard.

Grajeda removed his jacket and fought with the officers.  The suspect and officers struggled against a fence on a ledge, about 40 feet above the ground.  Grajeda made several attempts to disarm the officers.  At one point, 26-year-old Police Officer Laurence Meyerowitz, 9 months with the LAPD, tried to place a carotid hold around Grajeda’s neck.  Grajeda continued to fight in spite of the carotid hold and being pepper sprayed.

Grajeda was subdued only after the officers’ help call was answered by several more officers from LAPD and the Port Authority.  Following his arrest, officers found that Grajeda’s jacket contained narcotics, a loaded magazine to a handgun, and shaved keys, commonly used by car burglars.

Grajeda and one police officer were treated at San Pedro Peninsula Hospital for injuries sustained in the fight.  Both were released from the hospital.  Grajeda was booked on charges of Resisting Arrest and Possession of Narcotics for Sale.

Because a carotid restraint hold was applied, the Force Investigation Division is required to investigate the use of force.  Questions can be referred to Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

Comments

[john doe p-2]

Good job Harb officers, AND great job to the P-1. Honestly, the susp got off easy.... If they go for your gun, they can be shot.... PERIOD! I would like to congradulate Meyerowitz on showing incredible restraint on his part. Harb is a great div, and has great supervisors. Stay strong p-1, even if FID makes you feel like you did wrong... you DID WHAT YOU WERE TAUGHT! Thumbs up to you, and Harb Div.

[Centurion]

In the press released it said the P-1 tried to apply the upper-body control hold. It appears that he never actually applied it because the press release says "tried." Shouldn't this fall in the same category, non-reportable or non-categorial UOF, when you deploy the OC, TAZER, or swing an impact device and never makes contact with the suspect. I can imagine the man hours that were used to investigate this incident if the Officer was never succesful in applying the hold.

[James R.]

Officers from the Port Authority were involved in the arrest?

Don't you mean the Port Police?

Port Authority cops are the ones that patrol NY/NJ's airports, ports and bridges.

By the way, PAPD lost 37 Officers on 9/11; the single most lives lost in one day for a l/e agency.

FYI.

[Harbor Dude]

Great to see two agencies helping each other out! Good job guys! Thank you all for your hard work.

[Jeff]

Why is it that majority of other police departments authorize the use of choke hold for aggressive and combative suspects, but LAPD only authorizes it only when you would be justified to use DEADLY FORCE? I know it is a POLITICALLY TOUCHY subject in your great LIBERAL CITY FULL OF LIBERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS who drive your city to the ground each day they show up to work...I guess that happens having a full time incompetant council members who only care about themselves and re-election... But back to the subject... Why does not the LAPD do a research of other depts and how many times they have used the choke hold and how many of those people have actually died AND if the choke hold, when used properly stopped the suspects actions..Hmm let's see maybe if it was authorized and if it was used during the recent Hollywood video, you would not have seen any punches (even if it was justified. OIt's painless, the bad guy goes to sleep for a min and it's over,, Officers inuries are minimal, the suspects injuries are minimal and it's done! I would like to see which city /PD manager has what it takes to bring this to the table and have it reveiwed and let the officers have another option in using force when justified.