Deputy Patrol Car Rear-Ended In Suspected 'Suicide By Cop' Mission

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say a marked deputy patrol car was rear-ended Tuesday by a man who told officers he did so intentionally, hoping he'd be shot.

The incident unfolded about 5:15 a.m. Tuesday on Reseda Boulevard near Prairie Street, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

According to the statement, Deputy Maria Ramirez was headed southbound in her squad car was she was rear-ended.

Ramirez, believing the incident was accidental, immediately went to check on the driver of the other vehicle, identified by authorities as Daniel Hoon Chang.

The statement said Chang was breathing but nonresponsive, and Ramirez called for an ambulance.

When officers arrived, authorities said, Chang ran to Ramirez's patrol vehicle and attempted to drive away.

"Fortunately, Deputy Ramirez had removed the keys from the vehicle's ignition and had them," the statement said, adding, "Chang told the investigating officers that he intentionally rammed the patrol vehicle so the police would shoot and kill him."

Chang was subsequently arrested and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. He was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

The statement said Ramirez was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. She has since been released.