Police Union Criticizes State After Parolee Arrest

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles police union is criticizing how the state classifies former inmates after a parolee was arrested on suspicion of deliberately ramming a stolen van into a motorcycle police officer.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League said in a statement that Alexander Diaz should not have been classified as nonviolent.

Diaz was arrested Wednesday in Los Angeles after he allegedly stole a van and accelerated into the Fremont officer, who suffered serious injuries.

The league says 36-year-old Diaz had a prior grand theft conviction.

His nonviolent classification meant he could become a "non-revocable" parolee, meaning he went unsupervised after his February release from prison.

State corrections officials had no immediate comment.

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