SWAT officers shot a man who allegedly rammed his SUV into a patrol car, injuring an officer inside, as they tried to take the man into custody at a Lawndale motel Tuesday.
The incident happened outside of the Best Western in the 15000 block of Hawthorne Boulevard sometime before 10:30 a.m. SWAT officers had arrived to the motel to take the man into custody on an arrest warrant and in connection with the assault of a Redondo Beach officer last week, sheriff's spokesman Lt. Steve Jauch said.
When officers tried to stop the man in the motel parking lot, he slammed the SUV head-on into the lieutenant's patrol car, Jauch said. That's when multiple officers opened fire on the man.
Aerial footage from NBC4 showed the black SUV riddled with bullet holes. At least eight other police cars surrounded the scene of the incident.
The wounded man was taken to a hospital and was reported in serious condition.
The lieutenant was also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was expected to be released Tuesday.
A thorough search of the man's SUV was being conducted to determine if he was armed, according to a statement released by the Sheriff's Information Bureau.
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Police and sheriff's deputies, initially fearing a second suspect might be in the area and possibly inside the hotel, evacuated the building and set up a search perimeter. Jauch later said only one person appeared to be involved in the confrontation.
