Youth’s Skull Fractured in Confrontation With Police

A 17-year-old boy who was chased by police in Van Nuys suffered a fractured skull after an officer struck him with a night stick, Los Angeles police said Wednesday.

The boy experienced convulsions and was in guarded condition at Valley Hospital Medical Center, Lt. Charles Higbie said.

The youth was arrested on suspicion of battery against a police officer and a 15-year-old companion was arrested for evading officers, Higbie said. The younger boy was released to the custody of his parents.

The boys were part of a group of five or six who initially were suspected of stealing the car in which they were riding when they encountered a squad car about 8 p.m. Tuesday, Higbie said. However, a police check revealed that the car was not stolen.

Higbie said officers Alan E. Sorkness and Dana P. Hansen became suspicious when they passed the youths’ car and it made a quick turn into the driveway of an apartment building in the 14600 block of Blythe Street.

The officers gave chase when the two boys ran into a parking area, where they slid under a car, Higbie said. The 17-year-old emerged and appeared to be running toward Sorkness, so Hansen hit the boy “several times on the back, shoulder and head, knocking him to the pavement,” Higbie said.

The older boy kicked Hansen and tried to crawl under another car before he was arrested, Higbie said.

Two witnesses reported that the officers struck both youths after they were handcuffed, Higbie said, but other witnesses to the arrest disputed that contention.