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Petitioners seek review of the decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals arising out of Deputy Gelhaus’ fatal shooting of 13 year-old Andy Lopez, who was carrying a toy replica automatic rifle by its grip. At all times, the toy rifle was pointed towards the ground, with Lopez’s hand on the grip, away from the trigger. Deputy Gelhaus shot at Lopez eight times, hitting him seven times, from approximately 62 feet. The question presented is whether there is qualified immunity for a police officer who shoots a 13-yearold boy seven times, particularly where there is evidence that the first...

The family of 13-year-old Andy Lopez, can take their wrongful death lawsuit to trial, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. The child was shot as he turned, shot as he fell and shot as he lay face down. Andy was penetrated by seven of the nine shots fired by one of the terrified deputy. He died ripped on the sidewalk. Full Coroners report and Dash cam data remain un available in recognition and respect of officer protections.

Dear Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, As Chair and Vice Chair of the Sonoma County Community and Local Law Enforcement Task Force (CALLE), ... The California Supreme (Court Copley Press v. Superior Court 2006) effectively changed California Penal Code, so that all independent oversight agencies, such as civilian review boards, oversight panels, and civil service commissions, must now cloak all officer records and findings of misconduct in strict confidentiality..., any independent investigation that would yield specific information about officer misconduct and patterns is stifled, and must come through an internal law enforcement investigation, or motions approved by a judge. Even...

Jan. 26 death death of Jessica Hernandez's who was shot by dead by police was ruled a homicide (deliberate and unlawful killing of one person by another;), Fourty seven shots were fired, Jessica a 17-year-old Colorado girl, was unarmed. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/death-denver-teen-jessica-hernandez-killed-police-ruled-homicide-n314771 Antonio Zambrano-Montes, 35-year-old Washington orchard worker (Mex) in had thrown rock at (moving) cars. Tonio was fired upon 17 times by Pasco police from less than five yards...

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KTVU) -- Sonoma County is poised to establish an independent auditor for its sheriff's department over a year after a teenage (Mex)with a pellet rifle was slaughtered by a(Sanoma)deputy. A 21 member "task force" has been meeting to work through well justiied community rage. "We're going to get something built and then we're all going to work on making it better every single day," declared task force member Amber Twitchell. "My fear is nothing is going to change, " Elaine B. Holtz.. >real American dreamers<<. // snipp // Jeff Westbrook, 57, a Santa Rosa program manager at...

On Oct. 22, 2013, a young Latino boy named Andy Lopez was shot by a Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy. His death was a tremendous loss for our community. We all want our children to grow up...

Sonoma County prosecutors spent $63,000 on outside consultants, and other expenses during an investigation into the shooting death of a child, who was shot and killed by a County Deputy Sheriff. The expense, included $10,000 payment to a William Lewinski, director of Minnesota-based, Force Science Institute who bills himself as an authority and is known in legal circles as someone who can be relied upon. The report concluding Gelhaus had to shoot 13-year-old Lopez to stop a perceived threat to the deputy and his partner.

Every year since 2001, the Sonoma County grand jury has reviewed what police call “critical incidents” – officer-involved shootings and the deaths of suspects or criminal defendants in custody. Until this year. The 2013-14 grand jury, whose term ended June 30, declined to examine such cases. That includes the October fatal shooting of teenager Andy Lopez by Sonoma County Sheriff's Deputy Erick Gelhaus, among other deaths involving law enforcement in the past year. Citing a lack of expertise, financial support and public misconceptions about their role, Sonoma County grand jurors decided to diverge from the longstanding custom.

Sonoma County Sheriff's Deputy Erick Gelhaus shouted then shot (dead 13-year-old Andy Lopez on October 22, 2013), Eric fired eight rounds. The hit / miss order can never be known. What is known is that Andy had failed to orange tip the bb-gun and that he never returned fire. Forensic indicate the 73 lb. perp took three 44 hollow points in the back and right side (falling?) plus four horizontals, head , neck lower...

Prosecutors said Monday they will not file criminal charges against a Northern California sheriff's deputy who shot and killed a 13-year-old boy carrying a pellet gun he mistook for an assault rifle.... Deputy Erick Gelhaus, 48, fired multiple rounds in response to what he believed was an imminent threat of death, Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced at a news conference. 'While in the lawful performance of his duty, Deputy Gelhaus was faced with a highly unpredictable and rapidly evolving situation,' Ravitch said. 'He believed honestly and reasonably that he was faced with a do-or-die dilemma.' 'While this was...

The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office announced Monday that it will not file criminal charges against a sheriff's deputy who shot and killed 13-year-old Andy Lopez. District Attorney Jill Ravitch said in a statement that investigators concluded Deputy Erick Gelhaus “fired his weapon in response to what he honestly and reasonably believed was an imminent threat of death to himself or others. “As such, he was lawfully acting in defense of himself or others, and no basis for seeking criminal charges exists,” Ravitch said in the statement. The finding was revealed in an email announcing a 2 p.m. press conference...

Salinas Police Chief (Kelly McMillin) spun up Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service on Friday to call in a "Conciliation Specialist" This is going to be a very important conversation... it will be good to have an expert,... The conversation comes after two officers shot a man to death on May 20, only 11 days after two other (deputies?) eliminated another man on May 9. Salinas fast guns also killed a suspect on March 21. //SNIPP// Welcome to Salinas, California. It’s a community of only 150,000 people & a US government 1033 program....http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/02/weird-california-city-of-150000-rolls-out-death-machine-complete-with-machine-gun-turret/ //Snip Snip// The 1033 Program "permits" the...

4. He Shot Andy Lopez Eight Times: Gelhaus stepped out of his vehicle and ordered Lopez to drop the gun. When the teen did not drop the weapon and turned facing the deputies, Gelhaus fired eight times at Lopez. //SNIP// (If a Deputy slaughters a child in the forest, will the Sharif make a sound?) //and then// http://rt.com/usa/andy-lopez-protest-return-deputy-093 Decision to reinstate officer who killed 13-year-old carrying toy gun ... The police officer who fatally shot a 13 yeae old child will be reinstated. Sonoma County Deputy Erick Gelhaus returned to work in Santa Rosa on Monday... (but) at a desk...

Community (is) growing impatient waiting for a decision by Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch on whether (or not) to file criminal charges against sheriff’s deputy Erick Gelhaus in the shooting death (seven shots riddled the child) of 13-year-old Andy Lopez. Gelhaus told authorities he mistook the boy's (un tipped, realistic looking rifle replica) BB gun for an assault rifle last October. (While the autopsy report detailing entry points is restricted, ballistics indicate three of the seven penetrating slugs were retrieved from the earth near and/or under the boy's shredded body.) The District Attorney’s office Thursday would offer no timetable...

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Are autopsies medical records or public records? South Carolina's Supreme Court will begin grappling with that question Wednesday, when it hears a lawsuit by a Sumter County newspaper against the county's coroner. The Item newspaper wants the high court to toss out a lower court's ruling that said autopsies do not have to be made public because they do not fall under the state's Freedom of Information Act.

The Santa Rosa Police Department has completed its investigation of the Oct. 22 shooting of 13-year-old Andy Lopez by Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Erick Gelhaus.... Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch acknowledged the receipt of the report late this afternoon at the same time Santa Rosa police announced the investigation was completed.... Ravitch said her office will determine whether or not violations of criminal law are believed to have occurred, and if any individuals who are believed to have violated criminal law should be prosecuted. She also said her office will provide a summary and recommendation to the Sonoma County...

On Oct. 22, Deputy Sheriff Erick Gelhaus, a marksman with 24 years in the (police) department, exited the car, took aim, shouted "drop the gun", (an AK-47 like, toy). As the boy turned (forensics document), seven penetrations in the center and right upper center & central lower quad. Three shots enter standing and falling, exiting the chest and face, Four enter prostrate with two exiting the top of the skull, one remaining in the lower abdomen and one exiting thru the left knee cap. Erick still feeling threatened hand cuffed riddled the 13-year-old, advised him of his 5th, then (cpr)...

Sonoma County law enforcement officials promised a crowded community forum on Thursday that they will eventually answer the many questions surrounding the shooting death of Andy Lopez, but declined to discuss details of the case. “I can assure you that once the decision is made, it will be a very public decision and my hope is that everybody understands the reason for my decision,” said District Attorney Jill Ravitch ... “But until that time, there may be information you're not made aware of, and that's the nature of an investigation, so that the integrity can be protected,” she said. Assistant...

If you are stopped by a police officer in Cotati, the event will likely be captured on a video camera worn on the officer's shirt. The city's 10 police officers now carry the pager-sized cameras, joining law enforcement agencies around the world that are rapidly adopting the devices to reduce complaints and record valuable information. Santa Rosa police officers are testing models, with about 15 cameras now on the street. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office expects to start a pilot program next year with cameras on 11 patrol deputies and two jail officers. [. . .] Currently, deputies do not...

The family of 13-year-old Andy Lopez has filed a lawsuit in federal court over the fatal shooting of their son, claiming that Sonoma County Sheriff's deputy Erick Gelhaus has a history of reckless acts and "shot without provocation or cause.".... At a Monday press conference... attorney Arnoldo Casillas declared the Santa Rosa Police Department's investigation into the shooting would be "a whitewash" ..... According to Casillas, only three seconds elapsed between the moment one of the deputies called for the boy to drop the gun and the moment Gelhaus began firing. Casillas spoke to reporters about the autopsy, which bears...