Police Incidents

The detainee choked one guard until he was unconscious and knocked another out with one punch, leaving him hospitalized with serious injuries, and knocked a third to the ground.

Body camera footage shows two officers question bystanders about how the woman came to be in the water. One officer then quickly removed his duty belt and equipment. Three officers climbed over the fence and jumped down onto the rocks below. They used the woman’s clothing to hoist her from the water and lift her up to where other people were waiting to pull her over the barrier. Once the woman had been lifted onto the sidewalk, FDNY personnel administered CPR and provided medical aid. The woman survived.

On Friday, September 8, 2023, at 1:39 p.m., San Pablo Police received a 9-1-1 call from a female reporting party in a residence in the 2600 block of Dover Avenue. The reporting party requested officers assist with a mental health evaluation for her husband, who was later identified as 44-year-old Andre Smith. The reporting party said Smith was showing signs of schizophrenia. The reporting party was concerned about how Smith would react to the police response. Upon arrival, Smith had locked him inside a room of the residence. Officers made attempts to communicate with Smith, but he refused. Officers learned Smith did not live at the residence with the family. The reporting party said Smith was not acting violent at that time and agreed to call the police if he exited and needed further assistance. At 2:52 p.m., the reporting party called 9-1-1 asking for the police to return, as Smith had exited the room and was harassing her. The reporting party said Smith was outside of the house, and she did not want him to return. As the Dispatcher was on the phone, Smith was overheard in the background yelling comments that he would kill police officers and make them kill him. Officers learned family members and children were still inside the residence. Officers arrived on the scene and began communicating with the Smith in the front yard. Smith refused to listen to the officer’s orders and, at one point, concealed himself along the side yard of the residence. At one point, Smith began throwing brick pieces at the officers. The officers deployed less lethal measures with Tasers and bean bag rounds. These proved ineffective as Smith grabbed a folding chair as a shield and raised a three-foot metal pole while charging at one of the officers in the front yard. Smith swung the pole at the officer, who ducked to avoid being hit. Another officer fired one round from his service weapon, striking the man in the upper right leg. Smith was subsequently detained, and officers immediately began providing medical aid. Smith was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. He survived his injuries, and has since been released from the hospital. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office subsequently charged Smith with two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon upon a peace officer, with special weapons enhancements. This case is pending trial.

On Thursday, March 21st , at approximately 7:39 a.m. via a text to 911 from a man reporting that he killed someone inside his hotel room. Additional information was received from the suspect regarding his wife being sexually assaulted and that he would kill anyone who approached his room. Therefore, based on the information regarding a possible victim inside the room with the suspect, Fort Lauderdale officers responded to his room and attempted to contact him. At that time, the suspect opened the door, brandished a firearm, and pointed it towards our officers who exchanged gunfire with the suspect. Immediately following the shooting, the suspect retreated into the hotel room and the door became closed. A SWAT call out was initiated so that officers could make entry into the room. Once entry was made, the suspect was discovered dead. No one else was inside the room at the time of the shooting. The cause of death will be determined as a part of the active FDLE investigation. Officer Jack DiCristofalo is believed to have been struck by gunfire multiple times. He was immediately transported by Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue (FLFR) to Broward Health Medical Center. His injuries were determined to be serious but non-life-threatening. Officer Pascal France also suffered minor injuries as a result of this incident, but he was not shot. He was treated on scene by FLFR. The suspect is identified as Karl Chludinsky, W/M, DOB 7/18/77, a resident of the City of Margate.

On Monday, March 25, a concerned citizen contacted the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office to report a shoplifter at a Palm Coast business. During the investigation, deputies determined the thief in question was also trafficking methamphetamine and other narcotics. Deputy Stanford responded to the Walmart in Palm Coast at approximately 6:26 p.m. to investigate a suspected larceny. The reporting party stated that a white female had passed all points of sale and refused to show her receipt for a cart full of items. The reporting party also provided a vehicle description to deputies and stated that they watched her move the stolen items from her cart to the vehicle, then flee on foot once she noticed someone watching her. The store’s loss prevention officer provided a more thorough description of the suspect, and later valued the stolen items at just over $1,030. Deputies located the vehicle matching the description in the parking lot, and observed stolen items on the back seat. Deputies then observed a female fitting the suspect’s description walking towards the store. Deputy Stanford made contact with the woman, identified as Amber McCann, 30, of Sanford, Florida, who admitted that she carried a loaded cart full of stolen items to a car. She claimed that it was a random car she found and placed the stolen items and her purse inside when she saw law enforcement arriving. According to McCann, she was playing a game called “21” where someone grabs as much merchandise from a store and walks out without paying for them while trying not to get caught. After being secured, she changed her story and said the vehicle had not been random, but in fact was a rental car that belonged to her boyfriend. While removing the stolen merchandise, deputies detected a clear and distinct odor of marijuana emanating from within the vehicle. During a probable cause search, they located a partially burnt marijuana cigarette in the center console. Additional baggies containing marijuana, along with a digital scale, hashish, a glass pipe with burnt residue, and empty baggies were found in the trunk of the vehicle. They also located a locked bag which contained two plastic baggies containing a clear, crystal-like substance, which tested positive for methamphetamine, and another baggie containing two yellow tablets identified as alprazolam, which is a Schedule IV Controlled Substance. Inside a locked safe, deputies located various 1-ounce silver bars and rounds, copper bars, and a 1-gram platinum bar. In total, deputies recovered four bags containing methamphetamine, which weighed a combined 62 grams. McCann was arrested for Shoplifting - Grand Theft ($750-$5000), Possession of Marijuana (20g or Less), Possession of Hashish, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Alprazolam, and Trafficking of Methamphetamine (28g-200g). She was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and is currently being held on $34,000 bond.

On January 3, 2024, at approximately 2:53 p.m., Troopers Steven J. Missale and Ronald Raymond observed a 2009 Mercedes E350 traveling southbound on I-87 in the area of mile marker 30.7, between exit 15 (NJ/I-287) and exit 15A (Sloatsburg). The vehicle matched the description of a suspect vehicle identified in an attempted homicide out of the city of Albany earlier in the day. A traffic stop was conducted on the Mercedes. The driver, later identified as Rakim A. Tillery, 35, of Albany, NY, immediately fired on the troopers who both returned fire, striking Tillery. Tillery was pronounced deceased on the scene. Troopers Missale and Raymond, both assigned to Troop T, SP Newburgh, were transported to Westchester Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and later released.

Scottsdale, Arizona (March 22, 2024) A suspect who shot at police during a traffic stop is dead after an officer-involved shooting on March 21 around 5:30 p.m. near the intersection of Scottsdale and Cactus Roads. Officers located a stolen vehicle in Scottsdale, and a traffic stop was initiated at 5:23 p.m. The suspect quickly exited the vehicle and began to shoot at officers. In response, both officers fired their duty weapons, striking the suspect, who did not survive his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:51 p.m. The suspect has been identified as 52-year-old Laquanza Young. A handgun was recovered in Laquanza’s possession. Thankfully, no other community members were injured, and the officers involved were not hurt. This incident started at 5:20 p.m. when an officer received a “Flock” alert about a stolen vehicle around 74th Street and E. Shea Blvd. The officer located the vehicle in the area and was able to confirm the license plate, which dispatch confirmed was reported as stolen. Two officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle, and the vehicle immediately stopped just south of the intersection. That was when the officer-involved shooting occurred.

On March 18, 2024, at approximately 1550 hours, Decatur Police officers stopped three subjects at 600 W. Grand, one matching the description of an armed robbery suspect from an incident that happened prior to the stop. Rocky Dupin, 38, was seen on surveillance camera footage robbing the Decatur Discount store for a glass pipe worth approximately $5. Police were able to identify Dupin later that afternoon because he was wearing the same clothing. During the course of the encounter, Dupin disobeyed commands and pulled a BB gun from his coat, at which time two DPD officers fired their weapons, striking the suspect. Dupin was taken to Decatur Memorial Hospital where he died of his injuries. Dupin was armed with a BB gun that was a precise replica of a .357 snub-nosed revolver, exact down to brass bullet casings that hold a charge of CO2. After the shooting, the other subjects that were with Dupin fled the scene. Neither officer involved was injured.

On Sept. 25, 2023, at approximately 2:30 a.m., officers with the Tallahassee Police Department responded to what was originally reported as a residential burglary in the 2300 block of Sandpiper Street involving multiple armed suspects. Through the ongoing investigation, it was determined responding officers interrupted a targeted, drug-related home invasion in progress. A suspect, matching the description of the initial 911 call, was observed by officers fleeing the scene. The officers gave chase and verbal commands for the suspect to stop, but the suspect did not comply. During the foot pursuit, another involved suspect emerged from the residence and began firing at the officers. The rounds struck one of the responding officers, and they immediately returned fire. The injured officer was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries and taken into surgery. Due to the nature of the incident, TPD's Tactical Apprehension and Control Team (TAC) responded to the scene. TAC and other responding units worked quickly to ensure the safety of the residents in the area. All three suspects have been arrested.

On November 16, 2023, at approximately 2134 hours, the Fort Collins Communications Center began receiving 9-1-1 calls from citizens reporting a dark-haired male acting aggressively and causing a disturbance outside a business downtown. It was reported the suspect was armed with a hatchet and bear spray. When the Fort Collins Police officer arrived on scene, he located the suspect, 28-year-old William Hayes in the alleyway holding pepper spray and a hatchet. The officer gave Hayes multiple commands to drop his weapons, and the suspect did not comply. Hayes began coming toward the officer and the officer used his taser, but Hayes was able to continue advancing. The officer then fired his duty weapon several times striking Hayes. Additional Fort Collins Police officers arrived on scene and began to render medical aid to Hayes. Hayes was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. No community members or officers were injured during this incident.

On March 05, 2024, approximately 0108 hours, a patrol supervisor approached a vehicle parked at a carwash. The officer made contact with a male subject identified as Micheal A. Estrada who was seated in the driver seat of the vehicle. Estrada became uncooperative with the officer and stated he had a gun on his person. The officer continued to tell Estrada to show his hands to which the suspect did not comply. He continued making threats toward the officer. Estrada subsequently shot at the officer. The officer returned fire striking the suspect. The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene.

On March 2, 2024, at approximately 0940 hours, Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the 9800 block of Fleming Springs Drive in East Harris County regarding an auto theft investigation. Deputies met with a complainant, who directed them to a residence where he had tracked his stolen vehicle. Deputies knocked on the door of the home attempting to contact the residence when they heard a suspect flee on foot. Two deputies located a Hispanic male matching the suspect's description walking in the 1700 block of sun Point Court, and talking on a cell phone. As they approached the suspect later identified as 18-year-old Nathanael Piñon, deputies saw an extended magazine protruding from the front of Piñon's waistband. Both deputies verbally commanded Piñon to stop using his cell phone. Piñon faced the deputies and reached for the firearm in his front waistband. The deputies verbally commanded the suspect to stop breaching for his weapon and, Piñon did not comply with their commands. Both deputies discharged their duty weapons, striking Piñon multiple times. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by EMS. Deputies recovered a 9mm caliber firearm that contained an extended magazine from Piñon's waistband.

On February 29, 2024, at approximately 1708 hours, officers responded to two separate robbery calls within a few minutes of each other. The first one was at an insurance business located in the 6800 block of Harrisburg followed by another one in the 6400 block of Brady Street. The description of the suspect was the same in both cases and police were looking for a man riding a scooter. The officers in this area had been looking for this individual because apparently there have been three or four other robberies in this area with the same suspect description. An officer later spotted the suspect and gave verbal commands to him. The suspect then attempted to flee the officer, who began to chase him. The officer continued to give verbal commands as he was chasing the suspect. The suspect pulled out a gun and started shooting at the officer. The officer returned fire and struck the suspect. The suspect died at the scene. The officer is a 30-year veteran. He will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.

On Wednesday, December 23, 2022, Whiting was placed into a cell in the psychiatric observation unit. Between 1514 - 1520 hours, Jail surveillance footage captured Whiting as he began to force-feed himself in the cell. Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies and jail medical staff were alerted to the cell and found Whiting in distress. Life saving measures were initiated, and Whiting was transported to a local hospital. Whiting was pronounced deceased a short time later.

On March 08, 2024 at approximately 1400 hours, the suspect, Willis Adams, 36, was involved in a trespassing incident. Officers told Adams to leave and that he would be arrested if he came back. However, he returned to the hotel about two hours later and was spotted by one of the officers who was still on scene. The officer tried multiple times, through verbal commands and using his taser to bring the situation under control, but a fight ensued. The officer drew his firearm and a struggle ensued over that firearm. During that struggle, the firearm discharged, striking the officer in the hand. The officer immediately lost control of the weapon at that point. Adams, armed with the officer's handgun, retreated, but was intercepted by another arriving officer. The suspect was eventually taken into custody with assistance of officers from the Gadsden County Sheriff's Department and the Leon County Sheriff's Office, who saw this altercation happening and stopped. Adams was arrested on a charge of attempted homicide of a police officer. The officer was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

On February 20, 2024, at around 8:40 p.m., Central Division patrol officers responded to a radio call for an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon” suspect at an apartment in the 400 block of East 5th Street. The comments of the call indicated that the suspect, later identified as 42-year-old Anthony Franks, threatened his neighbor with a gun. Once officers arrived at the location, the Person Reporting (PR) informed the officers that Franks pointed a gun at her. During this brief interaction, Franks emerged from the doorway of his apartment with what appeared to be a pistol (later determined to be a Projectile Launcher). Franks pointed and fired the weapon at the officers and the PR, which resulted in an Officer-Involved Shooting. Franks was not struck by gunfire and immediately retreated back into his apartment. Officers broadcast a “shots fired, officer needs help” call and additional officers responded to the scene. After a brief standoff, telephone contact was made with Franks and he was taken into custody without further incident.

On Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 3:48 a.m., deputies assigned to the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to the 3300 block of Avalon Street in Jurupa Valley, reference a domestic dispute. It was reported a male adult was using a knife to threaten a female while multiple family members were present in the residence. Deputies arrived on the scene and were able to safely evacuate everyone from the residence, but the suspect refused to exit. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) and the Crisis Negotiation Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. After extensive negotiations, SEB entered the residence, where the suspect exited a room armed with a knife. Despite multiple commands given to surrender, the suspect failed to comply, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred. The suspect was struck by gunfire, and deputies rendered medical aid; however, the suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene. No deputies were injured during this incident. This is an ongoing investigation, and no additional details are available at this time.

On Saturday, February 17, 2024, at around 1 p.m., Wilshire Division officers were patrolling in the area of San Vicente Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue when their Automatic License Plate Reader alerted them of a stolen vehicle. The officers observed the stolen vehicle, traveling east on San Vicente Boulevard, being driven by a male driver, later identified as 21-year-old Ian Jimenez. The officers confirmed the vehicle was stolen and requested a backup when Jimenez abruptly accelerated away at a high rate of speed. A vehicle pursuit ensued but quickly terminated when Jimenez collided with an occupied vehicle causing minor injury to the occupant. Jimenez exited the vehicle and fled on foot into the adjacent neighborhood where officers established a perimeter. Metropolitan Division K9 officers responded to the perimeter and conducted a K9 search. After a brief search, Jimenez was discovered exiting the rear door of a residence located in the 1200 block of Masselin Avenue, where a K9 contact occurred. During the contact, Jimenez wrestled with the K9, refused to surrender and fled on foot once again. Jimenez was tracked by the airship and ultimately taken into custody approximately one block away by a second K9 search team. Jimenez was transported by fire department ambulance to a nearby hospital where he was treated for K9 related injuries to his left forearm and right ankle and cleared for booking.

On March 16, 2024, at approximately 5:30 p.m., a Pasco County Sheriff’s deputy identified the suspect, 40-year-old Paul Smith, as wanted in a case involving battery by strangulation. Smith had a significant history of violence. Despite instructions to exit the vehicle, Smith refused and instead accelerated the vehicle.

On February 16, 2024, at around 7:50 a.m., Foothill Division officers responded to a radio call of a Restraining Order Violation at a residence in the 13200 block of Paxton Street. The comments of the call indicated the Person Reporting (PR) had a restraining order against her husband, and he was at the location. Once officers arrived, they met with a witness in the front yard who directed the officers to a back house on the property. There, officers met with the PR who confirmed the suspect, later identified as 52-year-old Pete Garcia, was inside. The officers approached the front door of the rear property and asked Garcia to step out of the location, Garcia refused. The officers verbalized with Garcia for several minutes before making entry. While the officers were attempting to detain him, a physical struggle ensued. During the struggle, Garcia produced a pistol from his front waistband area and pointed it in the officers’ direction. Simultaneously, one of the officers TASED Garcia. Garcia then fired one round from his pistol at the officers, resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting. Garcia was not struck by gunfire. He was brought down to a bed, where he was taken into custody without further incident.

On December 24, 2022, at approximately 0057 hours, officers from the Westminster Police Department contacted Khang Chi To (Suspect), in the rear alley of a retail complex at Bolsa Ave. and Moran St. The suspect matched the description of a subject responsible for commercial burglary and vandalism incidents earlier in the evening. The suspect was also in possession of a metal pipe similar to one reportedly used in the earlier crimes. Immediately upon contact, the suspect became argumentative and refused to follow repeated commands to stop and drop the pipe. The suspect fled the location on foot and was followed by officers, which ultimately resulted in an officer-involved shooting. The suspect was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injury.

On February 7, 2024, at approximately I (Trp. Matthew Foreman) was notified by Benton County was in a pursuit and was traveling eastbound on US Highway 412 approaching the Benton/Washington County line. I was advised that they were in pursuit of a stolen U-Haul truck. I was able make it to the county line to turn around. the U-Haul truck and Benton County units passed me, and I was able to join the pursuit. At the time of the pursuit, I became involved the following agencies where Benton County Sherriff’s office, Colcord Police Department (Oklahoma) and Tontitown was joining the pursuit. I took primary in the pursuit as we began to enter Tontitown. I began to set up on the passenger side of the vehicle to attempt a TVI but did not complete it due to a pickup truck parked in a driveway. We continued traveling eastbound on US Highway 412. The suspect vehicle began to approach State Highway 112 where Trp. Matthew Walker attempted to block the suspect vehicle in. The suspect vehicle continued traveling and Trp. Walker was able to perform a TVI on the driver side of the U-Haul. The suspect turned south on Industrial circle. I immediately performed a TVI on the rear of the suspect van and made it turn counterclockwise into an empty gravel parking lot and it struck the driver side of my patrol vehicle. The suspect began to reverse through the abandoned parking lot after a failed attempt to block him in. Once the suspect began to move forward, I reversed my vehicle and struck a Benton County patrol unit. The suspect continued traveling on Industrial Circle and started to travel east on US Highway 412. The pursuit continued east on US Highway 412, and Tontitown’s Police Chief was primary in the pursuit. The suspect entered Interstate 49 going southbound approaching the 71-mile marker. Tontitown perform a TVI on the suspect vehicle causing it to rotate clockwise. The rear of the suspect vehicle got caught in Tontitown’s bumper and caused him to leave the roadway to the right and overturn multiple times. The suspect vehicle continued driving backwards on Interstate 49 and Trp. Walker and I rammed the passenger front side of the vehicle, in attempts to disable the vehicle. I began to turn around and observed the suspect vehicle was still traveling and performed another ram on the driver side tire in another attempt to disable the vehicle. Trp. Matthew Walker, Tontitown, Benton County and I blocked the suspect vehicle in. The driver attempted to drive through the Tontitown patrol unit but was unable to do so. A felony take down was performed on this vehicle. The passenger was taken into custody and identified as Trenton Johnson (DOB:11/12/2002). Once the passenger was removed from the vehicle, we began to give the driver commands to exit the vehicle which he ignored. Officer Trevor Hammons with Tontitown Police Department deployed JPX on the driver. The driver continued to not comply with verbal commands. Trp. Walker approached the driver side of the vehicle breaking the window with his baton. Once he broke the window, the driver, later identified as Cory Mercier (DOB:08/20/2002), began to exit through the back of the van. The driver was later taken into custody without further incident. During the search of the vehicle, two 9mm handguns were in the back of the van. One of the firearms was a Mossberg MC2 9mm (S/N 016184MC). The second firearm was a 9mm Palmetto Dagger (S/N SZ016079). Both firearms had loaded magazines and a live round in the chamber. There was also two Molotov Cocktails located inside the vehicle. No other evidence was located inside the vehicle. A total of two patrol vehicles became disabled in the pursuit. A total of 8 patrol vehicles became damaged in the pursuit. It was later discovered the U-Haul van was not stolen, but it was flagged in ACIC as a Felony Wanted for Fleeing and Eluding out of West Land Police Department, Michigan. The two suspects were also wanted out of several different agencies including: West Land Police Department (Michigan), Tempe Police Department (Arizona), Oklahoma City Police Department, and Locus Grove Police Department (Oklahoma). This vehicle fled from West Land Police Department (Michigan) on January 23, 2024, On January 25, 2024, West Land Police Department special investigation division was doing a follow- up on the U-Haul truck and located it. The vehicle backed into a parking spot and was blocked in, and they attempted to take the subjects into custody. Mercier looked at them and said, "Fuck You!" Mercier put the vehicle in drive and accelerated forward almost running over a West Land officer and rammed one of their patrol vehicles. This vehicle fled from Tempe Police Department (Arizona) on February 5, 2024.This vehicle fled from Oklahoma City Police Department (Oklahoma) on February 7, 2024. Oklahoma Highway Patrol chased this vehicle into Arkansas. Benton county took possession of the driver and passenger and everything that was found in the U-Haul van.

On February 6, 2024, at 9:28 a.m., Lancaster Station deputies responded to a business in the 43500 block of 20th Street West, Lancaster, regarding a call of a business disturbance. The caller stated a male, armed with a machete, was at the location. The male was later identified as 38-year-old Jonathan Scott Foster of Lancaster. Deputies located Foster standing outside the front entrance to the business with a machete in his hand and an additional machete affixed to his waistband. He was given numerous commands to drop the machete but refused to comply. After several minutes Foster walked into the open business which was occupied by numerous customers. Deputies on scene fired a taser multiple times and launched several 40MM foam batons at Foster, but they had minimal effect. After the deployment of a third less-lethal weapon attempt, Foster charged at deputy personnel while still armed with the machete and a deputy-involved shooting occurred. Foster sustained several gunshot wounds to his upper and lower torso. Deputies rendered first aid until the arrival of Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics. Foster was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Two machetes, approximately 24 inches in length, were recovered at the scene. There were no other people injured in the incident.