Protective vest saves life

Press, 11 February 1983, Page 3

Protective vest saves life

NZPA staff correspondent Washington A New Zealand-born Los Angeles policeman, in a stable condition yesterday, can thank a bullet-proof vest for saving his life. Officer David Armour was on patrol in Beverley Hills with a colleague, Officer Tim West, on Sunday night when they noticed a car driving without lights. They stopped it, and the two men inside got out. The driver started scuffling with Officer Armour, Sergeant Larry Leffler told NZPA from the Beverley Hills police station.

The driver, who turned out to be a convicted felon named Jerry Eugene Holicheck, then pushed away from Mr Armour and drew a handgun, Sergeant Leffler said.

Holicheck fired at Officer Armour, hitting him at least twice in the chest, then turned and fired at Officer West, hitting him several times.

Both policemep returned the fire after they had been

hit, wounding Holicheck. Sergeant Leffler said. Back-up units arrived and both men were arrested and charged with suspicion of attempted murder of a policeman. One of the bullets penetrated Officer Armour's bul-let-proof vest. He underwent surgery yesterday at the University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Centre, and the bullet was removed, a hospital spokeswoman , told NZPA. She said his condition was stable.

Mr Armour was born in Westport. He left New Zealand about 12 years ago, as a child, to live with his family in Los Angeles. His New Zealand relatives live in Waikato.

Sergeant Leffler said that the two men in the car — Holicheck, who was in a serious condition yesterday at the Los Angeles County Medical Centre jail ward, and Donald Michael Welch, aged 46, in custody in Beverley Hills jail — had apparently been sawing off parking meters and making keys to fit others.