Two LAPD Northeast Division officers spotted a topless woman standing on the roof of an RV on January 27th and made the decision to stop and investigate. What followed was the kind of encounter that ends with a fractured arm, a busted lip, a felony arrest — and, naturally, a Force Investigation Division review of the officers who got punched in the mouth.
At approximately 3:57 p.m., officers on routine patrol in the area of Avenue 28 south of Pepper Avenue observed Christina Stewart atop the RV. They exited their vehicle and approached. Stewart climbed down. So far, so normal — if you work in Northeast LA.
Officers asked her to put on a shirt and began sorting out the situation involving the RV. Nearby witnesses helpfully informed officers that Stewart was homeless and that she appeared to have been attempting to break into the vehicle from the roof. Officers noted this and continued their investigation, which is cop-speak for: they weren’t done talking to her yet.
Stewart had other plans. She started walking away.
Officers told her she was not free to leave. She kept walking. Officers told her to stop. She did not stop. At this point the officers faced a choice familiar to anyone who’s worn a badge: stand there and watch someone ignore a lawful order, or do their job. They did their job.
When officers moved to detain her, Stewart struck one of them in the mouth. Officers used firm grips, body weight, and twist locks — what LAPD classifies as a Non-Categorical Use of Force, which is bureaucratic language for “the stuff you do when someone won’t go hands-behind-their-back voluntarily.” Stewart went into custody.
Stewart was transported to a hospital, where she was treated for a fractured left arm sustained during the struggle. The officer she punched received a minor injury to the inside of her upper lip, was treated at the scene by LAFD, and was released. Nobody else was hurt.
Stewart was booked on 69 PC — resisting an executive officer. That’s a felony, for those keeping score at home.
The Force Investigation Division responded and has opened a formal review. FID handles use-of-force incidents resulting in serious injury, which a fractured arm qualifies as. Investigators will review body camera footage and collect evidence. The department has not released additional details.
To be clear about what happened here: officers stopped to investigate a suspicious situation, witnesses told them the woman was breaking into a vehicle, she refused a lawful order to stay, she fought when they tried to detain her, and she punched a female officer in the face. Her arm broke in the process.
And now the officers are under investigation.
Welcome to Los Angeles.
