Suspect Dies After Illness Claims Go Unheeded

A robbery suspect who complained of being sick died in police custody shortly after paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department told officers that the man was feigning illness, authorities said Thursday.

Demond Michael Johnson, 23, of Panorama City was arrested shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday and booked at the Devonshire Division station on suspicion of robbery. When jail personnel noticed that Johnson had begun shaking, paramedics were called, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Kristie Romero said.

But upon examining Johnson, Romero and other police officials said paramedics concluded that Johnson was “feigning his illness” and did not need to be hospitalized. Despite the paramedics’ advisory, a police sergeant ordered Johnson transferred to the Van Nuys Jail, which is staffed by medical personnel.

En route to Van Nuys, Johnson suffered a series of seizure-like attacks and was unconscious when he arrived at the jail, police said. The suspect failed to respond to treatment from the facility’s medical personnel and paramedics, and he was rushed to Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, where he died at 6:31 p.m., authorities said.

“When he arrived at the hospital, he was already in full cardiac arrest,” said Kimberly Ellison, a hospital spokeswoman. “Our emergency department tried to resuscitate him, but they could not.”

Allen Cowen, the Fire Department’s chief of paramedics, said he has requested a full set of reports on the incident and that his department will issue a statement following a review. “You can be absolutely certain an investigation will follow,” Cowen said.

The incident has also spawned two separate LAPD investigations, including one surrounding the events leading to Johnson’s death while in police custody, which is being conducted in conjunction with the district attorney’s office. A separate inquiry will focus on the robbery Johnson was suspected of committing.

Investigators are awaiting the outcome of autopsy results to determine the cause of death.

Johnson was arrested near Columbus Avenue and Chase Street in North Hills by plainclothes officers from the Valley Bureau’s major violators crime task force, Lt. Dan Hoffman said.

Officers assigned to the task force, also known as the COBRA unit, were conducting surveillance in the neighborhood when they were notified by robbery detectives from the Devonshire Division that Johnson might turn up in the area, Hoffman said. When he appeared, he was taken into custody without incident.

Johnson was wanted in connection with a May 15 street robbery in the 15000 block of Parthenia Street, said Lt. John Dunkin. After being interviewed by detectives at the Devonshire Division, Johnson was booked on suspicion of robbery.

As is routine, Johnson was asked during the booking process if he was sick, Sgt. Francis McConnell said.

“He never stated at any time that he was sick,” McConnell said. Johnson did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, McConnell added.

Shortly after he was booked, Johnson complained of being ill, authorities said.