Fatal Fall During Officers’ Chase Prompts Protest : Death: Pico-Aliso residents march to Hollenbeck station alleging harassment after a man being pursued by police dies in a leap from a window.

A 19-year-old man apparently trying to elude police was killed Saturday after he jumped from a second-story housing project window near Boyle Heights, prompting a protest march by other project residents Sunday.

Los Angeles police officers investigating alleged drug sales near the Pico-Aliso housing project began to chase the man, later identified as Flavio Aragon, when they saw him holding what appeared to be a clear plastic bag with rock cocaine, Detective Mike Schwehr said. Aragon then ran into a building in the project and locked himself in a second-floor bedroom, he said.

“Officers heard glass breaking and entered the bedroom and noted that Mr. Aragon had apparently jumped through the window,” Schwehr said.

Aragon, found bleeding on the ground below, was taken to Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

On Sunday, about 30 residents marched on the Hollenbeck station to protest what they say has been police harassment at the housing project since an LAPD officer was shot near the project a week ago.

The group, most of them women, carried placards that read “Stop the Abuse” and “Enough is Enough,” and chanted “We want justice” as they marched the approximately 10 blocks to the police station.

Maria Teixeira, one of the organizers, said the group wanted an investigation to confirm the police version of the death.

“Police don’t treat the kids right,” said Fina Garcia, an eight-year resident of the housing project. “If they treat them with respect, they will respect the police.”

Schwehr said the police robbery-homicide division is investigating the incident, as is routine.

Lt. Jim McDonnell of the Hollenbeck station said there have, in fact, been more officers patrolling the housing project lately. That is due to increased crime there, he said, but police also are trying to get more information from residents about the July 9 shooting of Officer Gabriel Rivas, 31, who was wounded in the jaw after investigating gang activity.