The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) released information Monday regarding an officer-involved shooting that occurred last week.
On Saturday, July 22, at approximately 8:20pm, LBPD officers were dispatched to a call regarding a group of subjects loitering in the 2100 block of West Spring Street. Upon arrival, the officers observed approximately 20 to 30 subjects with open alcoholic beverage containers near them.
The officers attempted to contact and investigate the subjects drinking in public, at which time 27-year-old Ronald Clark of Bellflower, who was part of the group, fled on foot. Officers say they gave numerous verbal commands to the suspect to stop, as he ran to an occupied parked vehicle and attempted to enter the front passenger door. The officers did not know the relationship between the fleeing suspect and the occupants of the vehicle. The suspect ignored all commands, causing officers to utilize a conductive electrical weapon (Taser) in an attempt to stop him from entering the vehicle, police said.
The deployment of the Taser device was ineffective, and the officers then observed the suspect reaching toward his waist-band. The officers gave multiple lawful commands for the suspect to put his hands in the air and stop reaching towards his waistband, however, the suspect continued to ignore the orders, according to the LBPD. Fearing Clark was retrieving a weapon, officers fired at him, striking him in the lower body. Officers then took him into custody.
Long Beach Fire Department personnel responded to treat Clark and transported him to a local hospital, where, at press time, he was listed in stable condition. Police did not recover a weapon at the scene of the shooting, but they did recover drugs.
Clark was found to have a felony “armed and dangerous” warrant for his arrest and is on active parole for robbery. Booking charges are pending his release from the hospital.
LBPD experienced some technical issues with the body-worn camera pilot program equipment on that day, and the officers involved in the incident were not equipped with their cameras during their shift. Detectives discovered video of the incident at a nearby location and recovered it.
“As with all officer-involved shooting incidents, the department will be conducting a full and thorough review, as well as the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, who is responsible for conducting an independent investigation of the shooting, as they do with all officer involved shootings that occur in Los Angeles County that result in injury or death,” states a press release from the LBPD. “The Long Beach Homicide Detail investigates all officer-involved shootings. This investigation remains ongoing.”
Those with information regarding the incident are asked to call the homicide detail at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through LA Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to a smart phone or by visiting lacrimestoppers.org.
Source: LBPD
