Los Angeles was the scene of an intense altercation beginning with a collision and escalating to a physical confrontation between LAPD officers and a suspect under the influence. On March 1, officers from the Central Traffic Division were dispatched to a reported "Ambulance Traffic Collision" at the intersection of North Alameda Street and the 101 Freeway, a regular juncture tragically transformed into the nexus of chaos that afternoon.
In what became a quick spiraling of events, Brian Goldberg, the driver involved, was arrested for felony DUI of Drugs with Traffic Collision after sustaining face and head injuries during the accident. While being ushered along a hospital corridor by police, Goldberg's temper flared, aggression took over and, refusing compliance, he attempted to break free, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement.
The confrontation escalated rapidly when Goldberg turned combative, attempting to bite the officers, leading to an incident categorized by the department as a "Categorical Use of Force." Amid the scuffle, the officers resorted to physical constraint, with one placing a clenched hand against his throat and then an open hand around the neck, according to the department. Despite the turbulent encounter, Goldberg reportedly sustained no additional injuries from the use of force applied by the officers.
This contentious episode, fortunately, did not yield any injuries among the officers or bystanders present, though it is now under the scrutiny of the LAPD's Force Investigation Division; a standard procedure for incidents involving the use of force by its officers. The public awaits the findings of this investigation, pondering the balance of responsibility and control in such volatile situations.
