#policjant

Carson, California — On August 7, 2023, at 1:53 a.m., Carson Sheriff Station received a 911 call from a store clerk reporting a man causing a disturbance at a gas station. The caller said the man, later identified as 34-year-old Arturo Cernas of Los Angeles, was screaming at the gas pumps and would not leave. Carson Station deputies were dispatched to the call. Cernas eventually complied and got on his knees. Deputies repeatedly told him not to reach for anything. For approximately a minute and a half, Cernas remained on his knees with his hands on his head.

He suddenly reached into his right pocket for a cell phone and reached into his backpack. During this time, deputies gave repeated commands for Cernas to stop moving. Cernas then grabbed the pistol from his left pant pocket. When Cernas reached into his pocket and grabbed the pistol, one deputy fired a less lethal 40mm foam projectile. Cernas continued drawing the pistol and, almost simultaneously, a deputy discharged his service weapon. Deputies rendered medical aid until the arrival of Los Angeles County Fire Department Paramedics. Paramedics pronounced Cernas deceased at the scene. After the incident, it was determined to be a CO2 BB pistol which resembled a firearm.

Roosevelt Island, New York — On August 5, 2023, At approximately 1130 PM, NYPD officers responded to multiple 911 calls at 540 Main St. regarding a 21-year-old man who was reportedly threatening a family member with a knife. The caller was a relative inside the location who also stated, the armed man was off his medication and under the influence of marijuana. Three officers entered one of the elevators and were preparing to ride it to the man’s floor, while two others were trying to prop open the lobby door with fliers in anticipation of backup.

All of a sudden, the suspect emerged from the second elevator not occupied by officers and moved quickly towards an officer, swinging the knife directly at this officer. That officer retreated outside of the lobby and then the suspect charged towards the elevator occupied by three officers. One officer fired at the man with a Taser, and two officers pulled out their service weapons and shot the man multiple times at close range. The video shows the man on his back just outside the elevator as his right arm went limp. After the shooting, the officers tried to save the man’s life. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. None of the officers or civilians in the area were injured during this incident.

A suspect who allegedly shot at officers was wounded when they fired back - and then taken into custody in the Pico-Union district on Sunday, police say.

No officers or witnesses were injured, but the suspect was struck and sustained injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, the LAPD says.

The incident happened around 12:30 p.m. in the area of West Pico Boulevard and Kenmore.

LAPD officials say two officers were driving down Pico in a department vehicle when someone opened fire at them. Bullets struck the windshield of the SUV but the officers were not injured.

Colorado Springs, Colorado — During the morning of Thursday, August 17, 2023, the United States Marshals and Colorado Department of Corrections - Division of Parole requested the Colorado Springs Police Department's Tactical Enforcement Unit, or TEU, assist them with apprehending a wanted fugitive in Colorado Springs. The fugitive, identified as 37-year-old Benjamin Annaboli, had been observed by US Marshals and parole officers and a parking lot of a hotel in the 1700 block of Aero Plaza Drive. Annaboli was identified as a violent offender with several outstanding arrest warrants for felony criminal offenses. TEU officers went to the hotel, located a person they believed was Annaboli and attempted to arrest him.

Annaboli fled on foot, running toward the front entrance of a hotel while holding a handgun in each of his hands. As Annaboli fled on foot, a uniformed CSPD officer yelled at him to stop and that he was under arrest. Annaboli refused these commands, pointed a handgun toward another uniformed CSPD officer, and refused two loud commands to drop his gun. A CSPD canine officer also released a canine in an attempt to apprehend Annaboli, and the canine chased Annaboli, and began biting him. Annaboli attempted to fight the canine off and turn towards CSPD officers while still holding a handgun. Two CSPD officers then fired their guns at Annaboli, and the shots hit him and caused him to fall to the ground.

As the officers approached Annaboli, they observed a handgun on the pavement near him and another handgun in one of his hands. After Annaboli was struck by the gunfire officers, took him into custody and provided emergency medical care until paramedics arrived. Annaboli was transported to an area hospital, where he died from the gunshot injuries he sustained. Investigators located two handguns in the area where Annaboli was shot by police officers. The first handgun was dropped on the ground by Annaboli, and the second handgun was in his hand when police officers took him into custody.

The officers involved in this incident:
- Officer Brian Kelly, assigned as a canine handler in the specialized enforcement division. Officer Kelly has been employed by the Colorado Springs Police Department for 22 years.
- Officer Matthew Waters, assigned as a tactical officer in the specialized enforcement division. Officer Waters has been employed by the Colorado Springs Police Department for 11 years.