Man Scales ‘American Cement Building’ in Attempt to Gain Entry

Westlake, Los Angeles, CA: A shirtless and shoeless man attempted to break into the “American Cement Building” located on the 2400 block Wilshire Boulevard in the Westlake neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2022.

Officers initially responded to reports of a man scaling the exterior of an apartment building approximately 14 stories high. At that time, the man was on the 4th floor of the exterior of the building, according to Sergeant Patton with the Los Angeles Police Department Rampart Division at the scene. After officers arrived, the suspect ultimately made his way to the 11th floor where he used wind chimes hanging from the outside of the building to break a window in an attempt to gain entry.

Additional units arrived for traffic control and to cordon off the area. An airship, along with the Los Angeles Fire Department was also requested to assist at that time, according to Patton.

A tenant living in the unit on the 11th floor with the broken window, self-evacuated and met officers downstairs where she provided information as to where the man was, said Patton. The building was not evacuated during the incident.

LAFD and LAPD Rampart officers made contact with the suspect who surrendered to authorities and was taken into custody without incident.

Patton said the man did receive an injury from cutting himself on the window, and was transported for medical treatment and a mental evaluation as well as an evaluation for substance abuse.

In Key News Network video from the scene, the suspect can be seen grabbing part of a wind chime attached to the outside of the building and then hitting the window of the victim’s apartment until it shatters.

Video: Zak Holman, Photojournalist / KNN