Police Wound Suspect in Pacoima Drug Deal

A Pacoima man being chased after a drug transaction was shot in the hand by an officer, Los Angeles police said Wednesday.

The officer thought the man was going to grab a gun, police said.

Samuel Dorris, 25, was in good condition in the jail ward at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center after the 6 p.m. Tuesday shooting on the back porch of his home in the 13100 block of Daventry Street, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of possessing cocaine.

Sgt. Sid Nuckles said Officers Peter Jones, 31, and James Bower, 32, members of a crime-suppression detail, had been patrolling Pacoima streets known for narcotics activity when they saw some men in front of Dorris’ home. When the officers, suspecting a drug transaction was taking place, stopped, Dorris ran toward the rear of the property, Nuckles said.

Jones, a seven-year veteran, followed and yelled to Dorris to “Freeze!” on the porch, police said. Jones’ gun was drawn and Dorris had his hands under his jacket, near his waist, Nuckles said.

“He began to remove his hands from his waist,” Nuckles said. “The officer, fearing he was going to arm himself, fired one round.”

After being hit in the right hand, Dorris ran inside the house and slammed the door, Nuckles said. The two officers took Dorris into custody in the living room, the sergeant said. Behind the door Dorris had slammed, police said, they found a small quantity of rock cocaine.