Man Steals Car And Crashes In From of Cop Then Tries To Steal Cop Car Before Being Fatally Shot

#OIS #GardenGrovePoliceDepartment #GGPD

On Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at approximately 01:20 hours, video surveillance from the AutoMax HB car dealership at 925 North Harbor Boulevard (Santa Ana) showed Salazar enter the car lot, run to a grey 2017 Dodge Challenger and enter the vehicle. Approximately two (2) minutes later, Salazar drove the vehicle off the lot, escaping undetected with the stolen vehicle At approximately 01:23 hours – within minutes of Salazar stealing the Challenger – Garden Grove Police Department Officer Jorge Mazon drove westbound on Trask Avenue approaching Harbor Boulevard. The intersection of Trask Avenue and Harbor Boulevard lies one mile north of the AutoMax HB car dealership.
Officer Mazon – having just finished a nearby investigation – was driving back to the GGPD station. As he neared Harbor heading westbound on Trask, Officer Mazon saw the Challenger “flying down Harbor” northbound toward Trask. Officer Mazon witnessed the Challenger collide with a raised center median pole and the center median running along Trask (just east of Harbor). The collision occurred directly in front of Officer Mazon as he approached the intersection. The severity of the collision, as described by Officer Mazon, was corroborated by the MAV footage. That footage shows the collision itself, including the portion wherein the front of the Challenger strikes the median, momentarily lifts into the air, and then settles to rest in the middle of the westbound lanes of Trask (just east of the intersection).
Officer Mazon stopped his patrol vehicle approximately ten (10) to fifteen (15) yards from the Challenger. He positioned the patrol vehicle in the lane nearest the Trask sidewalk. Officer Mazon’s patrol vehicle came to rest with the front wheels facing at an angle slightly toward the Challenger, which lay ahead, mostly in the next-interior lane. Based on the severity of the crash, Officer Mazon believed the driver of the Challenger was likely seriously injured. At the time, Officer Mazon was not aware that the Challenger was stolen from the AutoMax HB dealership just moments ago. According to Officer Mazon, he exited his patrol vehicle because “I want to help this person out … I’m thinking this person is either dead or severely injured because I saw how hard he crashed.”

Officer Mazon left the engine running in his patrol vehicle and the driver’s door partially open as he approached Salazar. Salazar walked directly towards Officer Mazon. Officer Mazon directed Salazar to the curb. Salazar continued walking towards Officer Mazon and pushed Officer Mazon with his right arm. Officer Mazon did not retaliate. Instead, Officer Mazon re-directed Salazar to sit on the curb and to “sit down … sit down.” Salazar then walked to the curb, but failed to comply with Officer Mazon’s repeated commands to sit down.
Salazar’s demeanor and uncooperative behavior, in context with the time of night and collision, led Officer Mazon to believe Salazar was under the influence of methamphetamine. He then walked off the curb, across the front of the patrol vehicle, and entered the driver’s seat of Officer Mazon’s patrol vehicle. Officer Mazon was still the lone officer on scene at this time. Officer Mazon gave Salazar multiple commands to exit the patrol vehicle. A struggle ensued whereby Officer Mazon attempted to get Salazar out of the patrol vehicle. Officer Mazon broadcasted a request to expedite his backup. GGPD Officer Omar Perez, who was dispatched to assist Officer Mazon, heard the sense of urgency in Officer Mazon’s voice and believed he was struggling. Officer Perez activated his emergency lights and siren as he responded.

Officer Mazon attempted to pull Salazar out of the patrol vehicle. Salazar said “[w]hat are you doing … why are you playing like that?” As Officer Mazon struggled to remove Salazar, Salazar said “I [unintelligible] kill myself … I don’t want to kill myself … I don’t want to do this … stop this… I can’t get myself arrested.” Officer Mazon repeatedly ordered Salazar to “stop … stop”. Salazar responded “alright … alright … I’ll do it.” Officer Mazon repeated “get out … get out … get out … get out … get out … get out … get out … hey … do me a favor … just get out.” Salazar responded “no.” Officer Mazon then repeated “just get out.” Salazar did not comply; instead, Salazar responded “why?” Officer Mazon repeated “just get out … get out.” As Salazar honked the horn, he stated “I can’t go … he’s stronger than me … you have to sh … [unintelligible] have to die.”

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