Suspended LAPD Officer Shot by Wife

A Los Angeles police officer recently suspended because of suspected cocaine use was shot early Friday by his wife, who allegedly fired in self defense after being beaten by him, authorities said.

Samuel Bryant, 33, was in stable condition at Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital after being shot several times in the chest, Sheriff’s Deputy Willie Miller said.

Bryant, a patrol officer in the Wilshire Division, was suspended from duty June 5 pending an investigation of 13 counts of alleged misconduct including buying and possessing drugs, police Cmdr. William Booth said.

The charges against Bryant include using cocaine several times during the past year, furnishing cocaine to two people, purchasing marijuana and failing to properly identify himself to sheriff’s deputies who were investigating a dispute at his home, Booth said.

Bryant apparently had returned to his Marina del Rey home about 5:30 a.m. when he became involved in a fight with his wife, Loretta, and allegedly struck her several times. The woman, also 33, then picked up a gun that the couple kept in their home and shot him, Miller said.