Paramount Pictures worker who barricaded himself inside Hollywood studio detained, police say
A man suspected of sexually assaulting a minor who works at Paramount Pictures was detained after barricading himself inside a building on the studio lot in Hollywood, police say.
"It is unclear whether he is a contractor at the location or is employed by Paramount Pictures," Los Angeles Police Department Officer Drake Madison wrote in an email to USA TODAY.
Paramount did not immediately return USA TODAY's request for comment.
California's Fullerton Police Department, which was initially investigating the suspect "for sexual assault of a minor," is handling the suspect's arrest and booking, Madison added.
FPD officers were near the Paramount lot attempting to arrest the suspect Sunday around 10 p.m. local time and had requested assistance from the LAPD.
"They attempted to detain the suspect and he produced a knife at which time they used a Taser," Madison said.
Police said there was an "officer involved shooting" at a gate to the lot, in which "40 mm and beanbag" shots were used but "ineffective." The suspect then "ran onto the lot and barricaded himself inside of a building."
Please see the below thread regarding the incident that took place earlier this evening on Melrose. The area will remain closed for several more hours as we continue to investigate. Thank you for your patience. ⬇️ https://t.co/VXY0L7bBJh
— LAPD Hollywood Division (@LAPDHollywood) October 19, 2020
"Around 12:15 a.m., officers entered the building and took the suspect into custody," Madison added. "The suspect was bleeding from wounds he sustained during the incident and was transported to a local hospital. The wounds to the suspect are self-inflicted... No officers were injured."
The suspect remains in the hospital as of Monday morning, FPD Corporal Billy Phu told USA TODAY.
Police tweeted around 4 a.m. PT that the area around the studio would remain closed "for several more hours" for an investigation.
According to Paramount's website, TV shows that currently call the Paramount lot home include "This is Us," "Dr. Phil," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Grace and Frankie" and "The Blacklist." It is unclear if anyone else was on the scene at the time.
The lot, which has been home to Paramount since 1926 according to its website, has also in recent years produced "Glee," "Selma" and "The Wolf of Wall Street."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paramount Studios: LAPD detains worker who barricaded himself in lot
