LAPD Officers Ignored Duty to Play Pokémon Go
A just-released dashboard camera video from 2017 is adding fuel to an already scorching story. It reveals two LAPD officers, Louis Lozano and Eric Mitchell, bypassing a live robbery incident to engage in a Pokémon Go adventure. The footage shows the duo breaking multiple traffic laws, including speeding and ignoring stop signs, in their quest to catch Snorlax and Togetic.
Previously reported court documents had confirmed the dangerous antics of the officers who chose Pokémon over policing. Both men, with a collective 28 years in law enforcement, were dismissed following a 2017 internal investigation. Although reports had surfaced, the actual footage remained elusive until now.
Thanks to the relentless effort of 404 Media’s Jason Koebler, the public can now see the extent of the officers' misconduct. The dashcam video not only corroborates earlier accounts but exposes the degree of recklessness involved.
In the video, Lozano and Mitchell can be seen driving at high speeds, tailgating, and even going the wrong way on a one-way street. Their urgency? They were racing against a despawn timer for Snorlax, even stating, “It’s gonna go pink and change into something else.”
After missing Snorlax, the officers shifted their focus to Togetic, engaging in a conversation about the Pokémon’s abilities and game lore. Upon successfully capturing Togetic, Mitchell jubilantly exclaims, “Holy crap! Finally!” and talks about how envious their colleagues will be.
However, their joy was short-lived. A senior officer later questioned them for their 40-minute absence near a robbery scene. The duo decided to lie, stating they didn't hear the radio because they weren't always in the patrol car—a claim disproven by the video. This video evidence led to their firing in 2017, bringing an end to their careers and their Pokémon quest.
Source: Kotaku