Man Dies in Police Custody

Los Angeles: Yesterday morning, 46-year-old Delbert Eugene Wormwood died while he was in the custody of the Los Angeles Police Department Northeast Division.

On February 11, 2010, at around 4:24 a.m., police officers were dispatched to a radio call of a man running possibly under the influence of narcotics, in the area of Santa Monica Boulevard and Fountain Avenue.  The intersection is the border line between Northeast and Rampart Divisions.

The responding officers saw a man later identified as Delbert Eugene Wormwood walking southbound in the middle of the street on Vermont Avenue towards Santa Monica Boulevard waving his arms back and forth.  Wormwood appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and continued to walk across Santa Monica Boulevard failing to heed the officer’s directions to get out of the street.  Additional officers arrived to assist the responding officers in directing Wormwood to the ground.  After several attempts Wormwood sat down on the street and laid down on his back.  The officers approached and placed handcuffs on him.  He then began to flail his legs and a hobble restraint device was used.  Wormwood was then placed on his side and appeared to be unresponsive.  Officers immediately removed the hobble restraint and there was no force used in taking Wormwood into custody.

The Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics responded and began resuscitative efforts.  Paramedics transported Wormwood to a local hospital where he failed to respond to treatment and was pronounced dead.

Because Wormwood was in the custody of the LAPD when he died, Force Investigation Division has assumed primary responsibility for the investigation.

Comments

[Don Duke]

No Force used in taking Wormwood into Custody BECAUSE the Damned Fools Killed him first. Dead Men often do not Fight back. I don't know what a Hobble Device is but I can only Imagine that is something similar to what they used to Beat Rodney King to the Ground. We need to take the Fire Sticks away from these Mindless Morons that hold no Regard for Human Life. The Stupid Cops obviously did not want Woormwood to Flail his Legs so they put him into some sort of Vice Grip which apparently Killed him. If the Coroner can Determine that they did in fact, Kill him, then each and every Cop that was present MUST be Charged with Premeditated Murder (They had the Hobble Device ready to Kill or Maim) No wonder the Mass Public Hates Law Enforcement. We need to get started Immediately to have the Cops Accept Responsibility for taking of a Human Life. Maybe they Tightened the Hobble Device around his Neck just a little bit too Tight? Lets all do what we can to stop these Senseless Killings. Write to your Representatives to make a New law Prohibiting a Cop from Killing someone in their Custody. I did already.

[b&wop;]

A proverb was written specifically for Don Duke: "It's better to be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."

Luckily, Mr. Duke is not part of the "Mass Public".

Jeez.

[Justice]

Don, do yourself a favor and reframe from writing anything until you have at least a little bit of knowledge. The LAPD has a great website that provides several resources for you to draw from, rather than to look like a fool. Go to the Inside the LAPD section of the website and read the LAPD manual sections that are listed below, it’ll help you from appearing moronic.

HOBBLE RESTRAINT DEVICE
Optional Equipment Plain Clothes Duty - 3/627.20
Required Equipment Uniformed Officers - 3/621.10
Safety Equipment - 3/376.10
Transporting Violent Persons, Use of Leg Restraining Devices - 4/217.52

Hope you learn something!!!

[T. M.]

This man had an illness. The police didn't bother to do any homework before the forced this man to death. Praying for his family. No money will replace this man. However, I hope they sue the pants off the police....

[Nelson]

Justice,
Well written. Just to let you know the Hubble device is used from the handcuff to the Ankles not the neck. Many arestees asked to be placed in this device by their behavior. I have been arrested several times and never disrespected the officers in order to have this done. One time I was threatened by rampart to have this done because is was way out of control do to drinking and was upset for what was taking place. I behaved and let the arrest and custody take palce and I as free within within 24 hours and leaarned some lessons.

[Elizabeth A. Pratt]

This man was my brother he was mentally ill. My brother suffered and was tormented with "Paranoid Schizophrenia" he also heard voices. Which is probably why he was waving his hands around. The only time he became violent was when he felt a certain type of group was after him. He was a kind man that would help many people that needed help. He became parnoid when he wasn't on his medication. If you read about this illness it is a vicious cycle of on meds off meds because they dont think anything is wrong with them. The truly feel that someone or something is after them. He was a good soul with good morals however as in most mentally ill people society doesn't help them they ignore them. We tried desperatly, numeroius times to get him help but he kept getting in trouble for his illness instead of they help he truly needed.

[Ann Donald]

I'm a friend of Delberts sister here in Maine. When I read this police story about his dealth I thought OMG what really happened!
Del didnt have a mean bone in his body.When he was off his medication he got a little paranoid but never violent.
A Hobble Device? That sounds like something from a Steven King movie and shouldnt be used on real people, not even animals.
I'm not sure I ever want to visit LA again and walk down the street pointing at things maybe I'll end up Hobbled!

[Dom G.]

A Hobble device is merely a small nylon strap, like a belt, used to bind a person's legs together (generally just above the knees)when they are trying to kick and injury an officer who approaches them. When used properly by a trained officer, the device itself is harmless.

If family and friends of Delbert were so concerned about him, he would have been staying with them rather than running through the streets of Los Angeles. They obviously didn't help him while he was alive, but suddenly they come out of the woodwork to point the finger and assign blame in his death without any specific facts to support their claim. What state would the City of Los Angeles be in without police officers? I personally have a right to walk down any street in L.A., but sometimes I don't feel safe with people like Delbert running amuck. Where were family and friends when Delbert needed them? Then there are those who would jump on the "blame the police for everything" bandwagon because the police interfere with their illegal activities. Hypocrites!

[Blu9ght]

Ann Donald, your simple-mind is you very own personal hobble...

[CITIZEN]

I like the way blu9ght and dom g. want to put the blame on the family. Sometimes the person who needs help won't take it no matter what. You can't blame the family for dumb cops.

[saddened]

I knew Delbert for the past 2 years. I can only see him smiling when I think of him. Del was sick. His sister is obviously well educated on mental illness because she said it how it is. Schizophrenics for some reason walk in the middle of the street during psychotic episodes more often than you realize (sober and not). The police are also educated on these same facts and whether they caused his death or not, he was in their custody and an investigation is needed and hopefully reveal the truth. Regardless he is gone. I will miss him and pray for his family and for justice. To his family please take comfort in the fact that he is at peace now smiling down on us.

[Curtis Lemanski]

Citizen,

A famous American wrote a book called "It Takes a Village." Embracing that thought, I recognize that your immediate, automatic and unwavering criticism of the LAPD is necessary to, in some way, keep this blog balanced. There were always be extreme opinions on any issue.

However, your above post detracts from your credibility. You are almost waving the white flag and very clearly stating "I'm messing with you people."

You said it yourself: "sometimes the person who needs help won't take it no matter what". Then you insult the officers as "dumb."

I ask you, and I really would like you to answer: what should have been done in this situation? Or any situation where there is an individual who is either under the influence of narcotics or experiencing a is behaving in that manner?

Are you saying the use of the hobble was wrong? Should they have ignored Mr Wormwood and driven away?