What to do if You are Confronted by Police Officers in Los Angeles
On March 3, Los Angeles police shot and killed a man who shouted obscenities at them and looked as if he were drawing a weapon, according to SFGate.com.
Police officers were stopping someone when the man pulled up, honked his horn, and screamed at officers. He then put a weapon on his car roof. He walked towards officers, yelling obscenities. He was told to stop but ignored the order and reached his hand towards his waistband. A police officer shot him several times, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
We do not know what made this individual confront the police. We also don’t know why he didn’t follow the police officers’ orders. If you are ever involved in a traffic stop or a physical confrontation with the police, there are a few rules you should always follow in order to avoid serious consequences.
First, don’t run. The police will become very suspicious of why you are running and will use stronger force to subdue you. In all likelihood, they will find you and the consequences will be much worse than if you hadn’t run at all. Also, don’t ever resist arrest or touch an officer. The natural instinct of many people is to try to hit an officer’s hands away, but that could lead to additional charges.
If the police tell you to do something, do it. Avoid being argumentative and remain calm. If they tell you to put your hands where they can see them, do as they say. They don’t know you and they don’t know if you have a weapon. Avoid making sudden movements.
It can be intimidating to have an encounter with the police. If you have been arrested for a crime in the Los Angeles area, contact the Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf at 866-390-7373. Our skilled attorneys will help you navigate the criminal justice system.
