3 officers injured, suspect dead, after violent OC neighborhood rampage
FULLERTON — Authorities are investigating the in-custody death of a man who was apprehended last Monday after going on a violent neighborhood rampage and attacking City of Fullerton police officers who responded to the scene. During last week’s melee, officers deployed several less-lethal options, including firing a “sponge gun” and multiple tasers while trying to gain control of the violent subject.
The man died a short time later while being transported to an area hospital, after paramedics received permission “to administer a sedative to the male in order to calm him down,” Fullerton PD has since reported.
During the violent encounter the alleged 22-year-old suspect, who officials have yet to publicly identify, was captured on home surveillance cameras punching and kicking his way into the home of a neighbor, where a terrified mother with two young children took shelter inside the home. In CCTV surveillance footage later obtained by KTLA5 News, the mom can be heard frantically screaming for help as her children are heard crying in the background.
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In the wake of the man’s death, Fullerton Mayor Jesus Silva asked Fullerton’s interim Police Chief Robert Dunn “to diligently review” the in-custody death. Additionally, the mayor requested a review of “any body-worn camera video, for compliance with the Fullerton Police Department’s standards and protocols.”
Silva also asked for the public’s patience as officials “thoroughly examine this situation.”
Fullerton PD Lt. Jon Radus later said the department had already begun “a thorough, thoughtful, and diligent review of the circumstances that not only led up to the incident, but also what occurred during and after the incident to ensure that all our officers involved, from start to finish, acted both within our department policy and the law.”
“Our review, independent of the DA’s review, will of course include reviewing all body worn cameras of everyone involved, any relevant police reports, witness statements, evidence at the scene, and interviews,” the Lt. explained.
Last Monday’s deadly incident was preceded by another incident around 3:30 p.m. the same day, when officers responded to a 911 call in the 200 block of S. Kellog Ave., regarding a man who was causing a disturbance.
According to a FPD press release, the deceased man’s father made the initial 911 call that brought officers. The dad reportedly told emergency dispatchers that his son “was being disruptive,” and also reportedly warned dispatchers that his son “would possibly fight with police when they arrived.”
same man.
“After speaking with the male and his family, the family advised police that the male could stay with them and that they would be able to control him,” FPD said in their release. “They did not want anything further done.”
About two hours later, at around 5:22 p.m., dispatchers began receiving several additional 911 calls reporting the man was back in the street and causing a disturbance inside the neighborhood. Callers reported the suspect “was acting erratically and yelling at people as they walked by,” explained FPD.
While officers were headed back to the scene, the man suddenly began to punch and kick his way into a nearby neighbor’s residence, where a terrified mother and two small children were home alone. After kicking open the home’s front door and entering the residence, the alleged suspect reportedly turned around and ran back out to the street, where he continued his “erratic and violent behavior,” FPD later reported.
When officers arrived at the scene, the man “immediately began to rush the officers,” according to FPD.
After ordering the combative man’s family to go back into their home “for their own safety,” officers fired several 40 millimeter, less-lethal, “sponge gun” rounds at the violent subject, striking him in the upper body.
“The less-lethal rounds had no effect on the male and he continued to rush at (officers),” at which time three separate officers deployed their tasers – all to no effect.
“After the sponge gun rounds and three tasers were deployed with no effect, a physical fight ensued,” said FPD.
As about a dozen officers flooded into the neighborhood, officials eventually managed to overpower and subdue the still violently resisting man and got him into handcuffs. Despite being handcuffed the man “continued to be violent and uncooperative,” FPD described.
Footage of the man’s arrest, filmed by OC Hawk News’ Adrian Piñeda, appeared to confirm FPD’s statements, and showed no less than a half-dozen of the officers trying to gain control of and handcuff the violently struggling man. As the struggle continues, other officers continued to converge on the scene with their lights flashing and sirens wailing, until official vehicles lined the entire street.
Footage also showed the suspect was still screaming and trying to fight with officers, even after he was handcuffed.
After apprehending the man, officers requested medical assistance for the suspect, “as is standard practice with taser deployments.” Ambulances were also requested for several officers injured during the wild melee.
“Because the male continued to fight, paramedics contacted the receiving hospital and they were granted permission by the hospital to administer a sedative to the male in order to calm him down,” FPD explained. “The male calmed down and he was placed in an ambulance for transport to a local hospital.”
While being transported to the hospital, the man “suddenly stopped breathing in the back of the ambulance” and paramedics immediately began life-saving measures, including administering CPR, according to FPD. They reportedly continued until they reached the hospital, where ER staff took over life-saving efforts.
Despite all efforts to revive the man, he was eventually pronounced deceased by ER staff.
Three of the involved officers who were injured during the violent encounter were also hospitalized after the incident. One reportedly suffered injuries to his face, another suffered an injury to her neck, and the third sustained an injury to his stomach, according to Radus. All three were treated and later released.
As the in-custody death investigation was getting underway, it was learned that the suspect was involved in another violent altercation with city officials earlier this month. According to FPD’s release, on Feb. 2 the man “jumped in front of a fire engine and tried to fight with firefighters” as they left the scene of an incident in the area of Magnolia Ave. and W. Valencia Dr.
Officers who responded to the firefighters’ urgent request for help ended up fighting with the violent man as he resisted their efforts to detain him. Officers later discovered the suspect was in possession of methamphetamine and he was subsequently taken to a hospital where he was held for a mental evaluation.
As is protocol with all in-custody deaths, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office was contacted and DA investigators responded to conduct “an independent investigation of the circumstances leading up to the in-custody death.”
The man’s identity will be released by the Orange County Coroner “at a time they deem appropriate,” according to FPD.
Anyone with information about this investigation or who has information about other incidents involving the alleged suspect are encouraged to contact the Fullerton Police Crimes Persons Unit at (714) 738-6776. Those wishing to provide information anonymously can call the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1(855) TIP-OCCS or can visit their website at www.p3tips.com/913.
Click any image to open full-size gallery.
Numerous officers struggle with a man who later died while being transported to a hospital. 
Numerous officers responded to assist with last Monday’s arrest. 
Paramedics administered a “calming drug” to get the violent man to calm down. 
Video surveillance footage shows the alleged suspect punching and kicking his way into a home. 
A mother and her two yung children were inside the home alone, and can beheard screaming frantically for help.
Adrian Piñeda/OC Hawk News photos
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.
GEez, isn’t Fullerton usually considered to be “nicer” area??? This sort of stuff should NOT be happening in OC. I’m shocked!! Thanks to Jerry Brown, I’m pretty sure, this seems to be happening more and more.
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