LOS ANGELES (KNX) - On Monday, the Los Angeles Police Department released video showing officers tackling a suspect carrying his child in his arms in February, after the man allegedly fled the scene of a hit-and-run.
The incident occurred on Feb. 11 at Long Beach Avenue and E.
55th Street, where officers from the Newton Division attempted to conduct a traffic stop when they saw a silver Jeep Wrangler that was “driving erratically,” Captain Stacy Spell, commanding officer of media relations for the LAPD, explained in the video.
Spell said the car took off before crashing into a flatbed truck. Audio from one officer revealed the collision occurred at 55th and Alameda streets. Digital-in-car video from the patrol car showed an officer pulling up to the collision and the silver Jeep taking off.
A police pursuit ensued for 11 minutes and then the car pulled over and the suspect ran out. Body-worn camera footage showed an officer tackling the suspect from behind and onto the grass.
It is that moment when a baby’s cry is heard. Footage then shows a baby being pulled out from under the suspect.
The suspect repeatedly tells officers, “I’m sorry, but I’m trying to take him home.”
Spell said the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Joshua Huerta, was the baby’s father.
Although Huerta had no injuries, the baby was taken to the hospital for a small skull fracture. At the hospital, the baby tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl and stayed for further testing. The baby was later released to its mother.
Officers searched Huerta’s car and discovered a large amount of money, narcotics, and three 9 millimeter unloaded gun magazines.
On. Feb 15, Huerta was charged by the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office with one count of felony child abuse, one count felony evading, one count felony possession of narcotics for sale, and one count misdemeanor hit-and-run.
Spell explained the incident is being investigated as “categorical use-of-force” because use-of-force cannot be ruled out as the cause of the baby’s injury.
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