HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - March 18, 1981 (34)MARCH 18, 1981
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COUNCIL REQUESTS Following introduction of the matter by Council --
REPORT ON man Hughes, the City Clerk was directed to appri.�
WOUNDING OF the appropriate persons of the Council's directia
LODI POLICE that it receive from the Chief of Police a
OFFICER report or) the recent wounding of a Lodi Police
Officer, and suggestions as to how similar
accidents could be prevented in the future.
•
.l
Y
POLICE DEPA.RYMENT
230 WEST ELM STRI LT
IAM, CALIFORNIA 95140 °f/1
(209) 368-0616
HENRY A. (,tAVE4 MARC YATES
City Mono7er tjarCh 21, 1981 ch -el 60 Pol-ce
To: Henry A. Glaves, City !-lanayer
From: Marc Yates, Chief of Police
subject: Roport - Officer Mocario Garcia' s Injuries
As instructed, the following pertains to -the Cif-curnstances surrounding the
gunshot wound received by Officer Garcia. 1 must preface this report with
the fact that it is an active case and the less publicity it receives prior
to trial is in the best intere�3ts of all concorned.
In retrospect, the information writtpro In the newspaper is a very close
account of the cirCumStanc.es involved. Thera are a number of reports of
all officers involved, but a short ,ynop5l-; follows:
Off Icer Garcia's injury wc•s received on h%arch Id, 1981; it)()
case involving a definite negligence on his part in that he
failed to follow proper searching procedures consis onP with
the training he hw� received.
Tho events began with the wife of the suspect cominc; to i.PC),
requestin(t an officer accompany her to tier home to pick up
some personal belongings, as she was leaving her husband.
She proco ded to the home by taxi (leaving the pickup truck
she was driving parked on Elm str-ezei) . The property she
wished to take was rbtained with vory Iittie problem other
than the normal degrading remarks between the two. At this
time Of f icor &)rc i a observed the man had bean dr ; nk i ng but
ho was in his own home and not creating any problems.
Upon leaving the residence, Officer Garcia observed the car
in his rear view mirror leaving the driveway of the home,
Knowing the man's intoxicated state, Officer Garcia made a
U --turn and went after the car. Thu Suspect lead him on a
Code 3 chase around the neighborhood, returning and parking
in his own driveway. As the officer approached tho car and
opened the door, the suspElCt physically came after the offi-
cer.
..continued..
I
Henry A. Gl aves, City Manager
March 27, 1981
Officer Garcia's' Injuries
1
At approximately the same time, Officer Beckman arrived to
assist. It took both officers several minutes to overcome
his resistance and handcuff him, including Officer Garcia's
handcuffs being lost in the mud during the struggle.
Rage 2
Officer Garcia placed the subject in his patrol unit and
was In the, process of transporting hire to Li'0 when the subject
was able to obtain from his person a .22 caliber automatic
and, by turning on his side with his hands handcuffed behind
him, was able to fire two shots through the back of the front
seat. One of the slugs struck Officer Garcia In the right
side of the back. Officer Garcia ,jumped from the still -moving
patrol unit to the pavement and the patrol unit veered to the
left and struck a parked car.
Sergeant McDaniel hoard Officer Garcia's call for help and,
within a few seconds, was there to find Officer Garcia on the
pavement, the suspect stili locked in the back seat and the
weapon lying on the floorboards.
As a (natter of Information, I heard the series of events on my monitor at
home and arrived at the scene as they were putting Officer Garcia Into the
ambulance. I did not talk to him at this time, Upon my arrival at Lodi
Community Hospital Emergency Room, the first words spoken to me by Officer
Garcia were, "I really blew it, Chief. i failed to search him." He fur-
ther stated that he and Officer Beckman had such a struggle with him and
the neighbors were all coming out malting remarks to then as to, "What are
you doing to him?", that he had placed the suspect In the patrol unit with-
out a search.
It should also be mentioned that Officer Garcia normally is one of the most
cautious officers in the departnx�nt. He has received hours of training on
safety, searches, car stops, officer's survival, search procedure, etc.
It is the topic of many training classes and pro -shift briefings. in ;short,
It is a daily part of our lives.
Unfortunately, police work Is dangerous and, In today's world, mistakes are
not forgiven. Officer Garcia is paying dearly for his error in search
and ,judgment.
A final comment: Officer Garcia was released from the hospital today and
Is resting at home.
Respectfully submitted,
fRCA7
Chief of lice
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