Police Incidents

On September 25, 2023, shortly after 1640 hours, Police Officers from Indiana State Police and Indianapolis Metro Police Department assigned to the Indiana Crime Guns task force were conducting an investigation near east 40th St. and N. Keystone Ave. Officers were looking for 42-year-old Damon Graves Jr. of Indianapolis. Mr. Graves was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant for a parole violation related to a robbery with bodily injury conviction. Mr. Graves was observed by officers in the passenger seat of a silver car on E. 40th St. eastbound at N. Keystone Ave. Officers in marked Indiana State Police and IMPD Vehicles and an unmarked vehicle conducted a High-risk traffic stop. A police drone was deployed before the traffic stop. It shows the female driver following officers’ directions and exiting the car with her hands up. Moments after the driver walked away from the car, Mr. Graves exited the passenger side of the car with a gun in his hands. Mr. Graves raised the handgun and pointed at the direction of officers. It was then officer involved shooting occurred. Mr. Graves was pronounced deceased at the scene.

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. Investigators released surveillance video from inside the apartment building showing Franks fire his weapon at the officers.

On February 20, 2024, at approximately 12:43 a.m., LVMPD dispatch received a report of a suicidal subject attempting to hurt himself with a weapon in the 2500 block of South Eastern Avenue. Officer Joshua Romanski arrived in the area and located a Hispanic male adult, later identified as 41-year-old Jose Luis Saenz, armed with a metal rod and bleeding. Officer Romanski issued verbal commands to Saenz, as other officers arrived to assist, including Officer Paul Guerrero. A low-lethal option was deployed causing Saenz to fall to the ground. He was able to quickly get back up and advance towards Officers Romanski and Guerrero, ignoring all verbal commands. He lifted the rod in a threatening manner, causing both officers to discharge their firearms, striking him. Medical personnel responded and transported Saenz to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

A drunk driving crash investigation in Bradley Beach ultimately led to a physical altercation and the suspensions of a local police chief and sergeant. The chief remains suspended with pay and the sergeant back on duty.

On February 3, 2024, at 2:14 p.m., Central Division uniformed officers responded to a radio call of an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon,” at the 600 block of Towne Avenue. The comments of the call indicated the suspect was under the influence and armed with a stick threatening employees. When officers arrived at the location, they met with the Person Reporting (PR). The PR stated the suspect entered the business on the 4th floor of a warehouse, located at the 800 block of East 7th Street and told the PR to leave the location. The PR, who was in fear, left the business and contacted the police. The PR told the officers the suspect had access to sharp items and metal objects inside the business. The PR signed a Private Persons Arrest for Trespass and directed the officers to the 4th floor. Once on the 4th floor, the officers observed the suspect inside the business and ordered him to exit with his hands up. The suspect initially complied then turned and charged toward the officers with a white object protruding from the bottom of his clenched right hand, which was held at chest level. The officers deployed less lethal toward the suspect, which was ineffective. The suspect continued to advance toward the officers with the object still clenched in his right hand. The suspect was struck by gunfire and brought to the ground, where he was taken into custody without further incident. The officers rendered aid to the suspect until the arrival of the Los Angeles Fire Department personnel. The suspect was transported by rescue ambulance to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The object possessed by the suspect, believed to be a knife, was later determined to be a white plastic fork. The suspect has not been identified. The item was recovered at scene and booked as evidence. No other community members were injured as a result of this incident. A supervisor, who was with the officers when the incident occurred, sustained a laceration to his right hand. The supervisor was treated for his injury at a local hospital and released.

Just after 7:30pm on February 8, 2024, Charlotte County Deputy Sgt. Dave Musgrove was traveling in the right lane on S. McCall Rd. near Spinnaker Blvd. in Englewood.At that time, he was passed by a motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed in the left lane.The motorcycle was estimated to be doing in excess of 100MPH. Seconds later, Sgt. Musgrove saw a cloud of dust and smoke ahead of him in the median area of Regina Dr.As he got closer, it was obvious that the motorcycle that had just sped by him had collided with a vehicle at this intersection.Sgt. Musgrove immediately activated his emergency lights and notified dispatch of the crash. As he approached the scene, he located the shattered motorcycle, which had come to rest in the left lane of travel and was unoccupied.The other vehicle involved was approximately 25-40 feet away and there was crying coming from within that vehicle. As he approached, he observed the motorcyclist, deceased, wedged into the rear window on the driver’s side of the vehicle.As Sgt. Musgrove rushed to check on the victims, he heard the driver yell to him, pleading to help her children.Sgt. Musgrove immediately ran around the rear of the car and opened the rear passenger door, locating a small child and removing her from her booster seat.The mother yelled that she had another child in the backseat as well. Being the only deputy on scene, Sgt. Musgrove flagged down a civilian to help hold the first child while he went to locate the second child.Underneath the deceased motorcyclist, Sgt. Musgrove located a baby seat with an infant inside, who was apparently unconscious. At this time, some bystanders approached and helped to move the motorcyclist off of the infant and cut the seat belt so that Sgt. Musgrove could remove the car seat and check on the baby. The infant had no pulse and was not breathing. Acting quickly, Sgt. Musgrove removed the child from the car seat and immediately began chest compressions. Despite not observing any signs of life at first, Sgt. Musgrove continued chest compressions until the child finally inhaled deeply.At that time, EMS had arrived on scene, and Sgt. Musgrove passed the child off to them to continue lifesaving efforts. After a short time, EMS advised that they had detected a pulse.

On January 19, 2024, at 12:14 p.m., Olympic Division uniformed patrol officers conducted a want/warrant check on a white Dodge pickup truck. The inquiry revealed that the vehicle was reported stolen earlier that day and that the victim had left a firearm inside the truck. Once officers obtained an additional unit, and an Air Unit was overhead, they attempted to conduct a High-Risk stop on the vehicle. The driver, later identified as 32-year-old Mario Alvarenga, failed to yield and accelerated away. Officers initiated a vehicle pursuit which was eventually taken over by Southwest Division uniformed patrol officers. Alvaranga continued into Newton Division and eventually collided with a parked vehicle at 12th Street and Paloma Street. Alvaranga exited the vehicle and ran into an occupied shipping facility, located on the 1100 block of East Pico Boulevard. Officers followed Alvaranga into the open business, and while inside, Alvaranga stopped and faced the officers. Alvaranga removed a handgun from his clothing and racked the slide in front of officers, resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting. Alvaranga was struck by gunfire, fell to the ground, and was taken into custody. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to the scene and transported Alvaranga to a local hospital where he was admitted for gunshot wounds. He is listed in critical, but stable condition. No officers or other community members were injured as a result of this incident. A Sig Sauer, Model P365ss 9mm handgun, which was registered to the victim, was recovered from the scene and booked as evidence. The firearm was not loaded and its 12 round magazine was empty.

On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, deputies responded to 4717 Davisson Avenue in regards to a man who was harming himself with a knife. When deputies arrived, the man ran out of the home and immediately charged at the deputies with the knife. The deputies fired their weapons at the man and rendered aid. He was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

On Friday, November 3, 2023, at approximately 6:40 a.m., Escondido Police received a call stating that a male was sleeping in a sleeping bag on the porch of a mobile home in the 2500 block of East Valley Parkway and he did not belong there. As officers responded, the call was updated to state that the male had now gotten up and was pushing a blue motorcycle through the mobile home complex. At approximately 6:50 a.m., two patrol officers from Escondido Police contacted a male matching the description from the radio call pushing a motorcycle inside the complex. They began speaking to him. During the contact, based on the information provided by the male, they learned he had a felony warrant for a parole violation out of Indiana. As officers began to detain the male, he turned and began to run. He also began reaching into his waistband. The male then pulled a firearm from his waistband, pointed it across his body at the officers, and fired multiple rounds. Both of the officers fired multiple times at the male, striking him at least one time. The male fell on the ground next to some bushes. He then rolled over with the gun, again pointing it in the direction of officers, prompting one of them to fire several more rounds at him. Officers requested additional officers and resources and were able to move forward and take the male into custody. A firearm was located near him. Officers began rendering aid, including CPR, until Paramedics arrived and transported the male to a local hospital. The male was pronounced deceased at the hospital. No officers were injured or struck by gunfire during this incident.

On December 22, 2023, at approximately 1030 hours, officers joined together to help save a man’s life. Officers were initially called to Arch Street and N. Adolph Street for an adult male in crisis. When they arrived, they found the subject in the driver’s seat of his vehicle in the middle of the street and began trying to de-escalate the situation. Moments later, the subject put the car in reverse and drove away from officers before getting out of his vehicle and running northbound on foot toward Rt. 8. When the second responding officer exited his cruiser, the despondent male climbed over the rail. The officer sprang into action, ran over, and grabbed the man in the nick of time just as he let go of the railing. Somehow, the officer managed to hold on to the 24-year-old man until additional officers arrived and assisted in pulling him to safety.

On Thursday, February 8, 2024, at approximately 1:30 p.m., an Arlington PD motorcycle officer conducting traffic enforcement along I-20 made a traffic stop on a vehicle that was driving erratically in the westbound lanes. The officer signaled for the driver to exit the highway as they approached Green Oaks Boulevard – but instead, the driver traveled across multiples lanes of traffic and pulled over on the left shoulder of the highway. Once the officer made his way over to the left shoulder, he approached the driver – who has since been identified as 49-year-old Sean McKay -- and immediately instructed him to exit the vehicle. A Kennedale Police officer who happened to be in the area saw the officer initiate the traffic stop and also pulled over to assist. Based on his conversation with Mr. McKay and other factors he observed, the APD officer continued to instruct Mr. McKay to hand over his keys and exit the vehicle. Mr. McKay did not comply with those instructions. Eventually, both officers went hands-on with Mr. McKay in an attempt to remove him from the vehicle. Mr. McKay resisted, moved into the front passenger’s seat, and retrieved a handgun. The officers then drew their service weapons, pointed them at Mr. McKay, and gave Mr. McKay repeated commands to drop the weapon and show them his hands. Mr. McKay did not comply with their commands. Based on Mr. McKay’s actions, the APD officer fired his service weapon three times, striking Mr. McKay. The Kennedale officer did not fire her service weapon. Investigators do not believe Mr. McKay fired any shots. The officers were not injured. Mr. McKay was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased from his injuries.

On January 13, 2024, at approximately 3:15 p.m., Century Station deputies were on patrol, in their marked patrol vehicle, in the 1600 block of Florence Avenue, in unincorporated Los Angeles. A female flagged down the deputies and told them that while she was working inside her parked food truck a male pointed a handgun at her and demanded money. The male was later identified as 38-year-old Noor Ramsis of Reseda. The female said she last saw Ramsis walking westbound on Florence Avenue and out of view. She provided a detailed description of Ramsis’ clothing and physical characteristics. Deputies located and contacted Ramsis walking on the sidewalk in the 1300 block of East Florence Avenue and ordered him to show them his hands. Ramsis turned toward the deputies while armed with a handgun, at which time a deputy-involved shooting occurred. Ramsis was struck by gunfire, dropped the handgun, and fell to the ground. Deputies rendered first aid until the arrival of Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics. Ramsis was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. A loaded semiautomatic handgun was recovered at the scene. It was later determined that Ramsis committed an armed robbery at a business, a couple of hours prior to this incident, where he stole the handgun and money. There were no other persons injured in the incident.

An Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy resigned in connection with an officer involved shooting that took place November 12th, 2023 near Fort Walton Beach involving the deputy and a supervisor. The internal investigation by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Professional Standards ultimately determined his use of force during a call on November 12th was not objectively reasonable. A policy violation regarding excessive use of control to resistance was sustained. Deputy Jesse Hernadez resigned December 4th. The facts and evidence gathered during the investigation also led to the determination Sergeant Beth Roberts’ use of deadly force was objectively reasonable. She was exonerated. After the initial investigation into the officer involved shooting was completed, it was reviewed by the OCSO Criminal Investigations Division for any possible criminal charges. Subsequently the OCSO requested an independent review by the 1st Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office. No probable cause for criminal charges was found. At that point per OCSO policy, the internal investigation was initiated. Deputies had responded to McLaren Circle around 8:42 a.m. in reference to an initial call of a vehicle driving around honking its horn and disrupting the peace since 3 a.m. A second call for service came in from a woman stating her boyfriend, Marquis Jackson, had committed grand theft auto, a felony offense, and had been calling and texting her threats. The victim provided text messages she said had been taken from inside her vehicle showing what appeared to be a firearm suppressor pointing at the dash of the victim’s vehicle. Jackson showed up at the scene around 9:09 a.m. and was detained, searched, handcuffed, and placed in the rear of Deputy Hernandez’s patrol vehicle while the investigation continued, and the victim completed the affidavit for the stolen vehicle. The victim told deputies Jackson had a silencer and she was not sure where it was and that also he had more than one weapon. As Deputy Hernandez was returning with a Victim’s Rights form for the caller, other deputies found the victim’s vehicle at 1656 Hunt Club Street. Deputy Hernandez was approaching the passenger side rear door of his patrol car to do a secondary search of Jackson when he heard a pop sound which he perceived to be a gunshot and believed he had been hit. He began yelling “shots fired” multiple times, falling to the ground and rolling. He fired into the patrol car. After witnessing Deputy Hernandez’s response and reaction and fearing for his life, the Sergeant responded with gunshots towards the car as well in response to the perceived threat. Jackson escaped injury and no weapon was located. The audible sound Deputy Hernandez reported can be heard on body cam video and witnesses also attested they heard the sound they thought could have been a muffled gunshot. Deputy Hernandez had been with the OCSO since January 2022. Sergeant Beth Roberts has been with the OCSO since May 2008. Both were current on resistance training and firearms qualifications.

On December 21, 2023, shortly after 1918 hours, the Pima County Sheriff's Department responded to the residence in the 9200 block of North Canal St. for reported domestic dispute. Information was gathered that the adult meal suspect was attempted to leave with a small child whom he no longer had custody of from the court ordered guardians. Deputies arrived on the scene, contacted the suspect and attempted to establish rapport to separate him from the child safely. Deputies were unsuccessful and began to take him into custody when a struggle ensued, starting inside the residents and eventually moving outside. During the struggle, the suspect pulled out a firearm, discharging it, prompting one deputy to return fire. Both deputies and the suspect were struck by gunfire. The suspect fled from the scene, however additional responding deputies located him down the street. Deputies immediately began to render aid to him until personnel from the northwest fire district arrived. The two deputies in the suspect were transported to Banner University Medical Center with serious injuries. No other community members were injured in this incident. Both deputies have since been released from the hospital and are recovering home with their families. The suspect received treatment and was released to the authorities.