On March 6, 2024, at 3:01 a.m., police officers responded to a restaurant located in the 1300 block of S. Brookhurst Rd. regarding two males that were standing at the front of the doors, possibly under the influence of drugs. The reporting party, who was the manager of the business, was concerned for the employees’ safety as they began to arrive for work, according to the Fullerton Police Department.
Officers arrived on scene and contacted one shirtless male adult, who was uncooperative with Officers’ commands. The male began swinging a belt at officers as they attempted to contact him. Additional officers were requested and once they arrived, they utilized a taser to attempt to subdue the suspect, which was ineffective.
The suspect continued to act erratically and was uncooperative as he refused to comply with officers’ commands. Officers then utilized a less lethal kinetic energy projectile and struck the suspect, allowing officers to take him into custody. At this time in the investigation, it is believed the suspect sustained a significant injury to the chest area as a result of the use of the less lethal kinetic energy projectile.
Officers began life-saving measures while paramedics responded. The suspect was transported to a local trauma center where he was later pronounced deceased.
As is standard practice in Orange County, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office will conduct an independent in-custody death investigation.
Wow, imagine being a police officer and being that afraid to approach or apprehend? I doubt they even needed to use the “kinetic energy” tool.
Would you risk your life and apprehend him..I wouldn’t
Maybe the man should have cooperated in the first place. Tragic? Yes. But from the story anyway, it stated that he was the aggressor. Taser didn’t have any effect, apparently, and he continued to act irrationally. What else could the cops do, just leave him be and drive off? What happens then when workers get there or an innocent person walks by and maybe gets accosted? I doubt the cops thought, “Hey, let’s kill this dude, sounds like a plan to me.”