A man attempted to run over CHP Officers

[Lovetoscratch]

http://ivpressonline.com/articles/2006/10/11/news/news02.txt

[CHPwannaBE]

Sorry buddy, but the link wants you to register with the site before viewing. I guess I won't be watching this one.

[Chippysgt]

I did not have any trouble accessing the story without registering. Here is the story that is on the Imperial County newspaper page.

CHP defends shooting

By DARREN SIMON, Staff Writer

Wednesday, October 11, 2006 2:57 PM PDT
A California Highway Patrol officer who shot and wounded a man Saturday morning after responding to a street-racing call acted within department policy, Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Jones said.

?The officer feared for his life and for his partner,? Jones, who commands the Highway Patrol?s El Centro station, said during a press conference on the shooting Tuesday.

The captain, who held the press conference jointly with Imperial County Sheriff?s Office Sgt. Miguel Leon, spoke to the media in response to ?information circulating in the community.?

At issue was an officer-involved shooting where a Highway Patrol officer shot 19-year-old Seeley resident Steven Gonzalez, who allegedly attempted to run down two patrolmen who responded to Saturday morning?s street-racing call near Seeley.

Officials had no information on a possible motive for Gonzalez?s alleged attempt to use his vehicle to run down the officers.

Gonzalez was struck twice, once in the left shoulder and once in the left thigh, Leon said, when one officer fired at him.

Now Gonzalez is facing counts of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

He was expected to be arraigned today in Imperial County jail court.

Since the story was first reported, a number of people claiming to be both Gonzalez?s friends and witnesses have alleged Gonzalez did not try to run down the officers.

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They have said he was trying to leave the scene, struck another vehicle and then was shot by an officer.

None of those who contacted this newspaper were willing to provide their names.

Jones and Leon said the investigation so far has revealed a different story.

Jones said when the two officers in one patrol unit responded to the scene on Imler Road near Forrester Road about 12:30 a.m. Saturday they found themselves facing a crowd of about 100 street racers and spectators.

The officers attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by a man, later identified as Gonzalez, and at that point, Jones alleged, the driver attempted to hit the officers.

At that point one officer opened fire and Gonzalez was wounded. It was only after he was shot that he crashed into another vehicle, Jones said.

Leon said sheriff?s officials, who are leading the investigation, have interviewed seven witnesses. He said the information they have provided is consistent with reports the officer fired and then Gonzalez crashed his vehicle.

He said if there are witnesses with other information they need to come forward.

Leon alleged, based on the information sheriff?s investigators have developed, that Gonzalez did try to run down the officers.

He alleged the crime scene analysis shows Gonzalez ?performed a maneuver consistent with the officers fearing for their safety.?

Neither Leon nor Jones released information on the number of times the officer fired at Gonzalez.

They also made no comment on the location of the officer to Gonzalez at the time of the shooting.

Leon also said he could not answer as to whether Gonzalez was among the street racers or whether he was a spectator.

He said investigators have attempted to speak with Gonzalez but he has been unwilling so far to speak to them.

Leon acknowledges Gonzalez has no known criminal record.

Friends of Gonzalez said he is not capable of the crime for which he is facing charges.

They have added he is a student at Imperial Valley College studying criminal justice.

As of this morning Gonzalez remained in Imperial County jail on $1 million bail for the count of attempted murder.

[Mac]

...Friends of Gonzalez said he is not capable of the crime for which he is facing charges....
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

...They have added he is a student at Imperial Valley College studying criminal justice...
Hope he's not planning on applying for the CHP! :badgrin:

"Will a charge of attempted murder on a CHP officer DQ me from the process??? Do I have to list it on my PHQ???"

[Chippysgt]

Makes me think of a line in the new (and very good) movie, "The Departed". Jack Nicholson tells the young cop that in their Boston neighborhood, all the guys became crooks or cops and when he points out that when the gun barrel is pointed at you, "What's the difference". Now I don't necessary agree with that but it does point to the irony of this hairball studying law enforcement and trying to kill a cop when the chips are down.