2015-06456 pgs 30 thru 84_Redacted - Copy

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S,4ta Ana PD 2015-06456: Supplemental Report by #2978 Page 3 of 3 Prior to the shot, the suspect did not make any demands or comply with any commands given by Officer Garcia. Officer Sweet described the suspect "didn't say a word". Officer Sweet further described that as the shot sounded, Officer Sweet believed the suspect went unconscious, simultaneously the car engine revved up. After the shot, Officer Sweet could see the suspect was still conscious and moving about. At about this time, the car engine stopped revving and returned to an idle. Officer Sweet and other officers formed a team to approach the passenger side of the vehicle. As they approached, the suspect turned towards the direction of the officers and placed the gun down, at which point he produced a cellphone. Officer Sweet observed the suspect to be bleeding around the cheek area. The team of officers retreated back to their original positions. The suspect then engaged in a conversation with an rinknown person on the phone. Officer Sweet estimated the phone conversation took approximately 90 seconds. Officer Sweet stated all the vehicle windows appeared to be in the closed position. Also during this time, Officer Garcia continued to give verbal cornrnands in Spanish and English. The suspect put down the cellphone and appeared to be gathering himself. The suspect then picked the gun back up, opened the driver's door, kicking it open and exited the vehicle with gun in his right hand. Officer Sweet described the manner in which the suspect exited the vehicle as confidently. At this time, several officers yelled "Grin". Upon seeing the suspect armed with the gun, Officer Sweet believed that the suspect was going to shoot at him and/or other officers, endangering nearby citizens. Officer Sweet discharged his duty pistol a Glock 22,.40 caliber, semi-arito pistol. Officer Sweet recalls firing three shots at the suspect. After firing his shots, the suspect immediately fell to the ground, landing on his side and face area. At this point the suspect appeared to be incapacitated. Shortly after the suspect was down on the ground, Sgt Humphries approached the suspect utilizing a ballistic shield for protection. Other officers trailed behind Sgt Humphries and confirmed the suspect was incapacitated. Officer Sweet was not injured in the incident and he did not have physical contact with the suspect. Additionally, at no time during this incident did the suspect attempt or make any type of verbal or non-verbal communications with officers. Investigator Smith displayed an overview photo depicting the location of police vehicles and the suspect --Gehicle-.-Office:r Sweet-atte-mpteJ- to i tify his patrol vehicle and its placement at the time of the shooting. Also, at the request of Investigator Smith, Officer explained protocol for an enforcement vehicle stop commonly referred to as a "routine traffic stop" versus the protocol for conducting a high- risk vehicle stop, commonly referred to as a "felony stop". Also at the time of the shooting, Officer Sweet was unaware that a total of (5) Santa Ana Police Officer discharged their weapons. He later learned this fact during the subsequent investigation. Officer Sweet agreed the only prior knowledge he had of the incident, was that he was responding to Felony Crime, which just occurred, where the suspect was believed to be armed with a firearm and fleeing the scene. Officer Sweet also stated in his 28 years of experience, that most officer involved shootings occur within only a few seconds. Officer Sweet also stated that in his experience a compliant suspect will follow verbal commands verbatim, including the command of discarding the firearm, prior to exiting the vehicle. He further described, it is not normal behavior for a compliant suspect to exit the vehicle with a gun in hand. When asked, Officer Sweet stated he was not provided an opportunity to view any of the video surveillance footage of the incident, prior to this interview. At this point Officer Sweet had no further information and the interview was concluded. End of Report. Det. C. Achziger #2978 http://ir3/IR2.Web/Report.aspx?action=editreport&reportid=550000000000274092&useri... 5/21/2015