Metro Blueline Fare Evasion Leads To Fatality

Tuesday at 8:52 P.M. Long Beach police officers were assisting Metro Fare Compliance Officers in the area of Pacific Avenue and Wardlow Road. While on the train platform, officers detained a suspect for fare evasion and subsequently located narcotics on him. The suspect failed to comply with the officer’s orders and attempted to flee the officer’s lawful detention.

As the suspect was attempting to get away from the officer, both he and the officer fell onto the platform. The suspect’s lower extremities were partially off the edge of the platform and the suspect was struck by an incoming Metro Train. The suspect was trapped between a train car and the platform.

Officers immediately called for the Long Beach Fire Department to respond. Once Long Beach fire personnel arrived they extricated the suspect from where he was trapped. The suspect was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.

As is standard in all in custody death investigations, Long Beach Police Homicide detectives responded to the location to conduct the investigation. The suspects name is not known at this time and his identification is pending determination by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office responded to conduct an independent investigation of the incident.

Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the Long Beach Police 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 your smartphone (available at the Apple Store and Google Play) or by visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.