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Council recognizes firefighters and neighbor after arrest in assault on 91-year-old
Summary
Councilmember Eduardo Reyes presented certificates Friday to two Los Angeles firefighters and a neighbor who, with others, pursued and helped detain a suspect who assaulted a 91-year-old woman on Sept. 3, officials said.
The Los Angeles City Council on Friday recognized two firefighters and a neighbor for their roles in the apprehension of a suspect who assaulted a 91-year-old woman on Sept. 3, officials said.
Councilman Eduardo Reyes presented certificates of appreciation to Firefighter Paul Kiyo, Firefighter Scott Tomlin and neighbor Laura Inman for their actions after the woman activated an emergency medical alert and neighbors and first responders chased and detained the suspect, Reyes said.
Why it matters: City officials said the incident illustrated coordination between residents, firefighters and police in a vulnerable-neighbor assault and that the arrests could aid prosecution. Commander Garrett Zimin of the Los Angeles Police Department’s detective services described the suspect as “a predator” and credited quick response and neighborhood intervention for making an arrest possible.
Reyes told the council that on Sept. 3 at about 5:30 p.m., a man pushed the woman inside her residence, demanded jewelry and assaulted her. The woman was able to activate a medical alert pendant, Reyes said; dispatchers could not reach her by phone and called a nearby neighbor, who arrived and joined others to stop the suspect as paramedics and firefighters reached the scene.
Commander Garrett Zimin, commanding officer of detective services, said the arrests followed “the cries of the victim and the community members jumping in to help.” He added, “They came upon a situation where a 90 year old person had been assaulted,” and said the prompt assistance will help the department pursue charges.
Deputy Chief Mario Ruda of the Los Angeles Fire Department also praised the firefighters’ initiative, saying the department does not train firefighters to apprehend suspects but that the two recognized employees showed “a tremendous amount of initiative and good judgment.”
Reyes named additional neighbors who assisted but were not present to receive certificates: Helen Molinar, Christopher Valverde, Corey Gomez and Esperanza Valverde. No formal council action was required for the presentations.
The council presentation concluded with certificates from both the council and the LAPD recognizing the firefighters and the community member for their roles in the response.
