The Los Angeles City Council president is demanding an explanation after two Burbank Police Department officers were caught on security camera footage this week dropping off a homeless man near his office, then leaving him on the ground before driving away in a car.
City Councilman Paul Krekorian released a video showing two uniformed officers pulling a car onto a street in North Hollywood on June 6, removing an unidentified man in handcuffs from the car, removing the handcuffs and driving away as the man appears to fall to the ground on his hands and knees.
The man, who was not wearing shoes, was later seen lying face down on the ground.
Video shows Burbank Police officers dropping off an injured and disoriented homeless man in front of Krekorian’s North Hollywood district office and leaving him there. Los Angeles City Council Speaker Paul Krekorian spoke about the incident during a press conference at City Hall on June 7, 2024. Los Angeles Daily News via MediaNews Group, via Getty Images
“This is an extremely cruel, inhumane and fundamentally irresponsible act,” Krekorian told reporters at a news conference Friday.
Krekorian said that after being provided with security camera footage, staff were able to find the man and provide him with medical treatment.
The city councillor said he was outraged that officers did not try to help the man.
“Without providing any assistance to this individual, without determining whether anyone could provide services to this individual, they abandoned him in North Hollywood,” Krekorian said.
Council members contacted the Burbank Mayor’s Office about the incident, which the city said was being “conducted a thorough investigation” by Burbank Police.
“The City of Burbank’s top priority is providing our homeless residents with the support and resources they need to transition from living on the streets to stable, safe living environments, and we do not take these concerns lightly,” Burbank Mayor Nick Schultz said in a statement Friday.
Krekorian said his office determined the man was treated at a Burbank hospital, and hospital staff called police after he became unruly.
Los Angeles City Council Member Paul Krekorian speaks during a press conference at Los Angeles City Hall on June 7, 2024. Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The Burbank Police Department released details about the encounter between officers and the man.
According to police, officers received a call around 8:45 a.m. Thursday about a man sitting naked at a bus stop at the intersection of Buena Vista and Alameda streets, just outside Providence St. Joseph Medical Center.
When officers encountered the man, police allege he had his own clothes and declined an offer to hand over his clothes.
Police said the man told officers he was homeless and had been taken to the hospital from the Sunland-Tujunga area.
“The individual stated he had injured his leg years ago and officers learned he had voluntarily left the hospital prior to arrival. After investigation, the individual refused any medical services,” Burbank police said in a statement.
Police alleged that “to enlist the suspect’s assistance in getting dressed, officers offered to drive him to a location of his choice,” and the suspect eventually got dressed.
Police said the man initially requested to be transported to the Sunland-Tujunga area, but then agreed to be transported to the Metro Red Line in North Hollywood.
During the ride, the man asked to get off so he could get a coffee, police said.
“Officers immediately complied with his request, stopped the vehicle and removed the individual from the patrol vehicle,” Burbank police said in a statement.
Police said they are reviewing all evidence in the incident, including body camera footage and witness statements, and thanked Krekorian for reporting the incident.
Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian holds a press conference at City Hall to discuss the actions of Burbank police who allegedly dropped off an injured and disoriented homeless man in front of Krekorian’s North Hollywood district office and left him there, in Los Angeles, June 7, 2024. Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News via MediaNews Group via Getty Images
City council members stressed that law enforcement needs to pay closer attention as the homelessness issue continues.
“If you happen to come across a security camera and see it happening, it’s likely happening more frequently when we’re not looking,” he said.