Suspect Falls 24 Feet from Freeway Overpass

Los Angeles: On January 29, 2008, at around 11:20 a.m., Harbor Division officers responded to the area of Pacific Coast Highway and the 110 Freeway in response to a radio call of a suspect throwing road flares at cars on the freeway. 

When they arrived, they saw the suspect, Spencer Gogue, a male Black, 37 years old, who was armed with a large sword.  With multiple officers at the scene focused to resolve the incident, Police Officer Arthur Meza, was armed with the Department beanbag shotgun and was designated as the less than lethal cover officer. 

A use of force occurred when Officer Meza fired three beanbag rounds striking the suspect in the upper body.  As Gogue was being struck, he climbed onto the handrail, then fell 24 feet to the concrete sidewalk below.  The suspect sustained multiple fractures as a result of the fall and was treated at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department. Spencer Gogue was transported to a local hospital where he was admitted and treated for his injuries. 

No officers were injured.

Force Investigation Division is handling the investigation.

Comments

[Gabe]

Thank goodness someone does your job.

"Oh, hi, honey, how was your day?"

"It was fine. I confronted a sword-wielding suspect dropping road flares from a freeway overpass."

"Really? How'd that work out?"

"Oh, it was fine, I nailed him with the beanbag shotgun and then he climbed onto the guardrail and fell 24 feet onto the pavement."

Nice.

I don't know how you folks do it every day, but thank you.

[D.R.]

This is really sad, I happen to know this young man that you claim to be a sword-weilding suspect, and he is the sweetest god loving man I have ever met, you see he has some disadvantages, he cannot hear nor talk, he is deaf, and the sword he carries on his back is one of the swords he had just aquired to add to his collection he claims are very religious swords and he is so proud of them, he was carring it untill he could store it at his grandmothers house. I highly doubt the flare story, this is totally out of his character, Im sure he did jump after being shot by bean bags, he didnt understand what was going on. So no dont feel too proud for nailing a handicapped person, In his words,he was a child of gods.