LAPD officer suffers hand, shoulder injury in fight with motorist

A Los Angeles police officer was hospitalized Tuesday after suffering a dislocated shoulder and hand injury in a struggle with a motorist who punched and struck him several times, officials said.

The incident unfolded about 11:30 a.m. when a motorcycle officer stopped a driver near Wilshire and San Vicente Boulevards. What began as a normal stop quickly turned violent with the man punching the officer, officials said.

Much of the incident occurred in the 8300 block of Wilshire Boulevard at the Beverly Hills border with Los Angeles and was captured on video by a bystander.

The cellphone video taken after the initial punches shows a man with an apparent headlock on the officer, whose sunglasses are seen flying off his head.

With the officer seemingly losing the struggle, a bystander rushes to help and shoves the motorist onto the sidewalk. The move allows the officer to gain control and pin the man before other officers respond and hold the motorist down.

A second video shows the officer getting up and limping away while holding his neck and shoulder. The motorist is seen continuing to struggle with other officers and seems to be trying to kick at them before eventually being removed.

Los Angeles police Lt. Andrew Neiman said the incident is being investigated by the department’s Force Investigation Division, which is protocol.

The officer was released from the hospital, and the motorist was being held on suspicion of assault on a police officer.

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