On Thursday evening, February 12, 2026, at approximately 6:32 p.m., Culver City Police Department (CCPD) officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a man walking in the street near Washington Boulevard and Higuera Street carrying what appeared to be a rifle.
Officers quickly located a subject matching the description walking eastbound on Washington Boulevard toward a heavily populated commercial corridor with restaurants, shops, and significant pedestrian traffic on a busy Thursday evening.
Officers observed what appeared to be a rifle partially concealed under the subject’s jacket. They immediately exited their patrol vehicles and issued numerous loud, clear verbal commands for the subject to stop and show his hands. The subject refused to comply.
The subject continued walking away from officers while concealing the rifle under his arm. Pedestrians in the area observed the weapon and began running from the scene in fear for their safety. Considering the visible presence of what appeared to be a rifle, the subject’s repeated refusal to follow lawful commands, proximity to crowded businesses and transportation platforms, and the risk of the subject harming densely populated areas, officers continued verbal efforts to gain compliance while creating distance from members of the public.
After multiple attempts to gain cooperation, the man continued to ignore the officer's commands. Officers provided clear warnings that a police K9 would be deployed if he did not stop. The subject again refused to comply.
Based on the immediate risk to officers and the public, a police service dog was deployed to apprehend the subject and prevent escalation safely. The K9 engaged the subject, knocked the rifle from his grasp, and took him to the ground. Officers immediately moved in, gained control of the subject, and handcuffed him without further incident.
The firearm was recovered and determined to be a replica rifle.
Paramedics from the Culver City Fire Department responded and treated the suspect. The suspect, Henry Estrada Hernandez, a forty-five-year-old resident of Los Angeles, was then transported to a local hospital for medical care for minor injuries. After being medically cleared, he was booked into the Culver City Jail for Brandishing a Firearm, Resisting/Obstructing a Peace Officer, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
During the booking process, officers located a substance suspected to be methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the suspect’s backpack.
CCPD deploys police service dogs when circumstances present an elevated risk to officers or the public and when other attempts at gaining compliance have failed. In this case, the suspect was armed with what appeared to be a rifle, actively disregarding commands in a densely populated public area. The deployment of the K9 allowed officers to quickly de-escalate, disarm, and safely take the suspect into custody, reducing the potential for a far more dangerous outcome.
This incident occurred during peak evening hours in one of Culver City’s busiest corridors. CCPD officers acted decisively to protect the community and prevent a potentially tragic situation.
The Culver City Police Department remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the safety of those who live, work, and visit our city.
For media inquiries, please contact Public Information Officer Jennifer Atenza at (310) 253-6120 or email [email protected].
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