Man Trying to Rob Off-Duty Officer Shot

An off-duty Los Angeles Police officer shot a Canoga Park man who tried to rob him at knifepoint as the officer was making a deposit at a bank Sunday, police said.

Sgt. Sid Nuckles said Officer Craig Ledsworth was attempting to deposit money at a First Interstate Bank automated teller in Canoga Park about 4:30 p.m. when he was approached by a man who demanded that he withdraw cash.

The alleged robber, Everett Wizar, 18, fled after he “became frustrated” at the length of time it was taking to withdraw the money from the bank at 8220 De Soto Ave, Nuckles said.

“There was some sort of foul-up, and the guy just took off,” Nuckles said.

Ledsworth, a 10-year police veteran, pursued the man to a nearby parking lot, where a car and driver were apparently waiting for Wizar, Nuckles said.

As Ledsworth, 34, approached the car, Wizar reached out of the vehicle and attempted to stab the officer, police said. Ledsworth then shot into the car. The bullet hit Wizar in the left leg, police said.

Wizar was arrested and taken to Northridge Hospital, where he was in serious but stable condition. He was expected to be transferred to the jail ward at County-USC Medical Center and booked for robbery, Nuckles said. The driver of the car may be arrested pending further investigation, police said.