Redondo Beach. Photo: SCV Bail BondsOn April 3rd, 2014, at around noon, Redondo Beach police received a call about a possible restraining order violation on Rockefeller Lane. When police arrived upon the scene, the suspect took off running and hid in a business on nearby Artesia Blvd, prompting its closure.

With nowhere else to run, the suspect (aptly) named, James Coward, hid within the building on the 2500 block of Artesia Blvd. for about 3 hours; ignoring the demands of the officers outside to come out peaceably. After the initial attempts of the officers to resolve the standoff peaceably failed, a team of police officers and canine units was put together with the purpose of entering the building and bringing Coward out.

Coward tried to hide on the first floor of the building beneath a pile of laundry, though the police k-9 units were able to quickly locate him.

Coward resisted arrest, and a police officer was bitten during the scuffle. It is unclear whether the officer was bitten by Coward or one of the k-9 units. At 4:04 pm, Coward was taken into custody and transferred to a local hospital, along with the bitten officer, to receive medical attention.

According to law enforcement officials, Coward is currently on parole and is a suspect in an open investigation regarding an assault with a deadly weapon charge. As a result of all this, Coward is now being charged with violating a restraining order, domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon (stemming from the open investigation in which he was already a suspect), and the standoff.

Robin Sandoval
Robin Sandoval is a California Licensed Bail Bondsman and owner of SCV Bail Bonds. Robin writes blogs and articles to help increase community awareness of the bail industry. If you have questions or want to suggest a topic, email robin@scvbailbonds.com, visit www.scvbailbonds.com or call 661-299-2245.
Robin Sandoval
Robin Sandoval
Robin Sandoval

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