Officer Injured in Foot Pursuit Near Gold Line

An LAPD Northeast officer injured his leg while running after a suspect at approximately 5 p.m. near the Highland Park Gold Line Station on Thursday.

An ambulance took Patrolman J.C. Duarte to an area hospital after he suffered a leg injury attempting to hop over the fence surrounding the tracks at the Highland Park train station during the chase of a man suspected of stealing a cell phone.

The injury was not believed to be severe, said Senior Lead Officer Mark Allen.

Allen said that the suspect was eventually arrested by officers near a house on Avenue 58 on the side of the tracks opposite of Marmion Way.

The pursuit began, Allen said, after the suspect allegedly stole a cell-phone from a woman waiting for a bus in front of Antigua Bread at Avenue 57 and North Figueroa.

The woman began to chase the suspect and the pursuit was eventually taken up by two Patrolmen in the area, one of whom included Duarte.

The suspect hopped the fence and boarded the Gold Line Train. Officers ordered the train to stop, at which point the suspect exited the cabin and fled toward Avenue 58, where he was eventually apprehended.