LAPD Arrest of Southwest Pursuit Suspect

UPDATE

Suspect Tonsha Wilcher was released from LAPD custody at California Hospital on Saturday, August 7, at 2 p.m.  At that time, Wilcher left the medical facility by his own choice, and the LAPD had no further information on his whereabouts. A short time later, the LAPD presented the pursuit case against Wilcher to the district attorney and obtained a filing for felony evading.   A warrant was then issued for his arrest, and his bail was set at $130,000.  On August 10, Wilcher presented himself to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Inmate Reception Center and turned himself in.  Investigation of the case is ongoing, and the LAPD may gather and present more evidence to the district attorney for consideration of additional charges.

Los Angeles:  Suspect arrested and taken to local hospital after leading police on a car chase through business and residential neighborhoods.

On Thursday, August 5, 2010, around 2:00 p.m., officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's Southwest Division, attempted to stop a man who had walked into the lobby of that station and threatened to kill police officers.  The suspect, later identified as 39-year old Tonsha Wilcher, ran from the police station as officers tried to detain him.  A police pursuit was initiated in an attempt to stop Wilcher for further investigation of his threatening behavior.  Wilcher refused to stop his vehicle and led police on a chase that was televised on local news channels.  

As Wilcher drove at high speeds through both business and residential neighborhoods, officers made several attempts to stop him through a variety of pursuit intervention techniques (PIT).  At one point the officers attempted a PIT maneuver, but Wilcher was able to escape.  Officers deployed spike strips in several locations also to no avail.  At one point in the pursuit, after colliding into a citizens' vehicle, Wilcher recklessly drove up onto a sidewalk.  

The pursuit ended when Wilcher again crashed into another innocent victim's vehicle and was ultimately pinned in and surrounded by the pursuing officers.  Wedged between two cars, Wilcher resisted officer's commands to submit to arrest.  He was eventually taken into custody and placed under arrest for Assault with a Deadly Weapon, the weapon being the vehicle and the deadly manner in which Wilcher drove the vehicle endangering a number of citizens and police officers.

Immediately following the arrest, Wilcher was taken to a local hospital where he was admitted for treatment of injuries he received as a result of the several traffic collisions he was involved in during the pursuit.  In addition to his physical injuries, the medical staff was asked to evaluate the nature of Wilcher's threatening behavior toward the police.  Due to the nature of Wilcher's condition he was left in the care of the hospital for further evaluation and treatment and booked for his crimes on Saturday August 7th.

Captain Steve Zipperman, Commanding Officer Southwest Division said "I personally met with Wilcher's brother on the day of the pursuit, at Western Avenue and 45th Street, where it ended."  Captain Zipperman gave Wilcher's brother a business card and phone numbers where the family could obtain information on Wilcher.

It is believed that any confusion regarding Wilcher's status likely resulted from the family attempting to obtain information from the Los Angeles Police Department's 77th Division, which was not involved in the arrest of Wilcher.  

For more information, contact the Los Angeles Police Department, Media Relations Section 213-486-5910.

Comments

[Wes Thayer]

I have a lot of respect for LEO but I watched a pursuit in LA involving one subject, one vehicle and 15 police vehicles. Finally the subject was out of the truck, on his knees with his hands behind his head and ALL the policemen standing back. Not one of them had the common sense to walk up on the guy and take him into custody. The guy got up and walked back to his truck and the pursuit began again.
Don't you hire MEN as policemen? In my day that guy would be down, cuffed and on his way to jail before you could say "you have a right". What is the matter with the police today? What are they afraid of? Come on guys you look foolish out there. Let's get the job done. What ever happened to POLICEMEN?????

[ABC Officer]

Well Wes,

I'm sure back in your day Police did a lot of things that they don't now. Some probably better and some worse than our current practices. Let me correct you on a few issues. First and foremost; that pursuit you are referencing was not LAPD. It began at a shooting range in the LaVerne/Pomona area. It did not involve LAPD at any time. Second, the tactics you observed are common when dealing with a known armed robbery suspect. Verbal commands to place the suspect in a position for a felony handcuffing technique. You see it limits the exposure to the officers and suspect for being shot. Wouldn't you say that's a good thing? If the suspect doesn't comply there are beanbag shotguns that can be used or K9s if one is available. What would you have done back in the day if you had begun to walk up on the suspect and he went to go get back in his truck? Shoot him? That doesn't fly anymore. Heaven forbid you are caught on video during a shooting. Everyone and their mother gets to tell you what they would have done in your situation and what you should have done differently. I'm not saying that you shouldn't take a shot if its justified and needs to be done. I'm just saying things are quite different now than in your day when they hired "MEN" as policemen. By the way, we hire women now too, and minorities.