Posted on 04/01/2005 10:04:33 PM PST by scab4faa
THORNTON, Colo. -- Thornton police said they shot and killed a city employee Friday while conducting a welfare check on the man after the employee pulled a gun on them.
Police would not identify the employee or say what department he worked for.
According to police, they went to the man's residence in the Thornton Mobile Estates at 3600 E. 88th Ave., on "city administrative business" at about 5 p.m.
Based on information they had, they said they entered the residence to check on the man's welfare after he failed to answer the door.
The first officer into the residence was confronted by the man, who drew a "shoulder weapon" and pointed it at the officer, police said. The officer fired his weapon, hitting the man and killing him.
Police did not say what type of weapon the employee had or for what city business they went to his residence.
The Adams County Critical Incident Team was activated to investigate the officer-involved shooting, according to Commander Steve Ritter.
I'm sure glad they checked on his welfare.
[Based on information they had, they said they entered the residence to check on the man's welfare after he failed to answer the door.]
I guess they wanted to make sure he wasn't breathing.
Definitely need some kind of welfare reform up there in Thornton.
Boy, the city of Thornton is tough on employee absenteeism!
July 11: Denver police officer Ranjan Ford Jr. shoots and kills Frank Lobato, a 63-year-old invalid, as he lay in bed watching television after the officer mistook a soda can in the man's hand for a weapon. Police were responding to a domestic disturbance call involving Lobato's nephew Vincent Martinez.
July 5, 2003: DENVER -- A 15-year-old mentally challenged teenager shot by Denver police Saturday after he allegedly threatened his mother with a knife died at the hospital.
January 30, 2002: DENVER -- Denver police are investigating a deadly police shooting Wednesday morning that has left one family in shock.
It started around 8 p.m. Tuesday when a defiant teenager was lashing out against his mom. Regina Smith said that she got in a fight with her son Greg (pictured, left) and he started to throw things around the house. When he smashed her car window, she called 911.
When police arrived at the home on the 3000 block of Garfield on the report of a domestic disturbance, Greg Smith had fled.
When the 18-year-old returned to the home four hours later, his mother said that he was still angry.
"He went in the drawer, got the knife, gave it to me and told me to kill him," Keith said.
When officers arrived for the second time, they found Smith at the bottom of the stairs leading to his room, 7NEWS reported. Smith told officers that he didn't want to go to jail and then pulled out a knife, 7NEWS reported.
"A confrontation ensued and the suspect was shot," a police press release said.
October 20, 2003: DENVER -- After another suspect was shot and killed by a Denver police officer over the weekend, city leaders are calling for an independent review of all eight deadly shootings by Denver police this year
City councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth and councilman Michael Hancock are calling for the review, wanting to make sure that the shootings are not racially motivated.
"It doesn't say that we are challenging our police department or the authority of the district attorney, it just says that we really want to know what happened, with an independent voice and an independent look," said Wedgeworth.
The U.S. Attorney's Office will conduct the investigation, which should begin sometime this week, Wedgeworth said.
The latest shooting occurred Saturday, when a Denver officer killed a 29-year-old man they say was threatening his family with a pickax.
Luis Rodelas-Acuna was wielding a pickax when police arrived at a house in southwest Denver just before 3 a.m., police said. He was shot when he refused to drop the weapon after several police orders and moved toward the officer at the scene, said Sgt. David Archuleta.
Rodelas-Acuna was taken to Denver Health Medical Center, where he died. Archuleta said the suspect was apparently drunk. Ana Rios, Rodelas-Acuna's girlfriend, contradicted police accounts and accused them of planting evidence on Rodelas-Acuna. However, other family members and eyewitnesses confirm the DPD's version of events, police said. The officer involved, Michael Ahrens, has been on the force since 2000. He's on administrative leave pending the investigation.
Wedgeworth is also worried about the outcome of a controversial police shooting involving a disabled teen who was legally blind.
The district attorney decided not to charge the officer who killed 15-year-old Paul Childs, even though it was the second disabled teen the policeman had shot dead in 18 months. Ritter has cleared police in all 70 shootings since he was elected 10 years ago.
I guess most liberals won't complain about this because the police killed a mentally ill person and a cripple -- that's kind of two for one! I guess shootings will have to do for now. People are not quite conditioned to accept gas chambers for the mentally ill or physically disabled, but give it a few years.
From THE LIMITED INFORMATION PROVIDED I only see a problem with the first shooting BARRING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Not shouting, just emphasizing.
Well if you want more info, why don't you look it up yourself. Denver police have a long history of questionable shootings.
Still working through the wave of racial violence against whites and shootings and assaults on police officers in Pittsburgh. After researching the Terri Schiavo murder, the WOT, threat from China, islamic nuclear proliferation, abortion and illegal immigration, I may have time to look into police shootings in Denver of people attacking family members with knives and pickaxes.
Just because I like you so much..
Paul Childs. (15): Shot multiple times by Denver Police Officer James Turney around 1:10 pm, Saturday, July 5, 2003.
Denver Police were called to the Childs residence by Childs sister, who reported that her brother, a mentally disabled teenager, had a knife. After the police arrived, they told Paul twice to drop the knife. Paul did not appear to understand. An officer called for a Tazer to be used, but right after that call was made Officer James Turny fired as many as four bullets into Paul Childs, killing him.
The Police Department maintains that Officer James Turny felt he was in mortal danger, and that Officers are allowed to use deadly force when an armed suspect is within 21 feet from them.
Officer Turny was also a shooter in the Gregory L. Smith Jr. shooting in 2002. Officer Turny has a history of abusing controlled substances including steroids.
A source familiar with the internal affairs investigation said Turney allegedly made threatening remarks to his ex-wife during a telephone conversation Friday, a day before the fatal shooting. (Rocky Mountain News, Denver Post)
Gregory L. Smith Jr. (18): Shot dead by Denver Police officers at 12:55 am, Wednesday, January 30, 2002. Denver Police were called by Gregory's mother because her son's behavior was violent and possibly suicidal. After police arrived, Smith, who was in the basement pulled out an open pocket knife, police on the landing above Smith opened fire, striking Smith five times. There were six Denver Police officers at the scene. Smith's mother and sister dispute the police account saying no warning was given and that Smith was not advancing on the police. Autopsy results showed no drugs or alcohol in Smith. Officer Bob Silvas, one of the shooters, has killed five men during his career and has an extensive record of excessive violence, including domestic violence.(Rocky Mountain News)
Saul Montoya (45) : Died while in police custody on Sunday, January 13, 2002. Police received a 911 call at 6:30 am about a man waving a gun at people driving by the intersection of Alameda and Federal. The unidentified officers who responded spotted Montoya near the McDonald's on Alameda. Officers claim Montoya was very agitated and uncooperative. Police placed Mr, Montoya in a Ripp Restraint, a variant of the hog-tie restraint. Mr. Montoya was pronounced dead at Denver Medical Health Center at 7:11 am. Mr. Montoya was not armed, he was waving his cell phone. Denver Police only started using the Ripp Restraint after Albert Compoz died in a hog-tie restraint on July 27, 2001. Police departments have known for at least 10 years that hog-tie type restraints are lethal. Autopsy results are still pending. ( Rocky Mountain News, Amnesty International.)
Vic McLaughlin(35): On November 11, 2001, McLaughlin was rushed to an unnamed Denver hospital by his mother, who believed he was having a heart attack. When his mother tried to help him from the car in the hospital lot, McLaughlin fell on top of his mother. Hospital guards and Denver Police claim they thought McLaughlin was attacking his mother and attacked McLaughlin. He died while being held in a pain compliance hold by a Denver Police officer. The officer was using numchucks to squeeze McLaughlin's ankle. An autopsy showed more than 40 bruises, 16 broken ribs and a broken sternum. (Rocky Mountain News)
Albert Compoz (37) Died while in police custody in a hog-tie restraint in his home on July 11, 2001. Police were responding to a domestic violence complaint. The 1998 Amnesty International report: United States of America; Rights for All documents that police departments have long been aware that face-down restraints, and in particular, hog-tie restraints can be lethal. These forms of restraint have been banned in Los Angeles by court order as part of a settlement of $750,000 in a wrongful death lawsuit. Other cities, including New York, have also banned hog-tie style restraints. In 1995, the National Institute of Justice issued a report to police departments advising to use hog-tie restraints as little as possible because of the danger of injury or death.
Richard Vaughn Dutson Jr. 39: On July 6, 2001, Dutson was cornered in a parking lot while stealing a car during his flight from police. Seven Officers fired 50 rounds at Dutson, hitting him 17 times. One officer reloaded his weapon and began firing again. Police allege Dutson was using the vehicle as a weapon rather than to escape. He was unarmed other than the stolen car. It is inconceivable that it was necessary for one officer to reload and resume firing. Fifty shots is excessive force. (Rocky Mountain News)
Ismael Mena: On the afternoon of September 29,1999, Captain Vince DiMana led a squad of Denver SWAT team officers into a supposed crack house on High Street in the Cole neighborhood in North Denver. SWAT team officers shot Ismael Mena eight times, killing him in his upstairs bedroom. Officers Mark Haney and fired through the door and the wall of Mena's bedroom. Police claim Mena was armed and produce an antique .22 revolver which Mena is supposed to have fired 3 times. The pin which holds the cylinder is broken, requiring the user to manually line up the cylinder with the barrel of the gun. Mena is alleged to have sat up after having been shot several times and return fire. Attempts by the police and the DA to cover up the fact that the police raided the wrong house and to link Mena to drug trafficking by altering documents were uncovered and made public. Mena worked the night shift at the nearby Coca-Cola plant. An autopsy revealed Mena had no drugs in his system. Protests against the fatal raid and subsequent cover up resulted in the firing of both the Police Chief and the Manger of Safety. Charges against officer Joe Bini who was responsible for the raid hitting the wrong house were reduced and Bini pled guilty to misdemeanor charges in a plea bargain deal. The city paid out $400,000 in damages. The SWAT team has been officially exonerated in the shooting. (Justice for Mena, Jefferson County DA office, Rocky Mountain News, Denver Post)
Charles A. Bowyer: On May 3, 1998 Mr. Bowyer was shot in the chest by Officer Shawn Saunders. Police had been called to break up the fight. When Saunders started macing the 2 men, Bowyer "came at" him with an "object" in his hand. Saunders dropped the mace and pulled his gun. Police claim Bowyer had a cannister of mace in his hand. The DA made no charges and the police classified it as a "good shot." There was no object in Mr. Bowyer's hand, the can of mace in question was the one Officer Saunders dropped when he drew his gun. Mr. Bowyer was unarmed. The city had to pay $75,000 to the victims' survivors. (Rocky Mountain News, Stolen Lives: killed by law enforcement)
Gregory Eugene Rodriguez: On February 7, 1998, Mr. Rodriguez was shot once in the chest by off-duty Officer Raymond Gallardo after he supposedly tried to run Officer Gallardo down in the parking lot of the Purple Turtle Lounge. Rodriguez was leaving the lounge where Officer Gallardo moonlighted as a bouncer. He was unarmed. This case has many similarities to the Jeff Truax killing which later resulted in a $500,000 Jury award (later reduced to $250,000). The civil case is still pending. (Rocky Mountain News, Stolen Lives)
Robert Daniel Murphy: Died while in custody of Denver Police on October 31, 1997. Officers Mike Rossi, Marco Martinez and Gary Hise responded to a call about a suspicious truck. Eyewitness accounts claim officers pulled Murphy from the truck and beat him. Police claim he choked to death. (Stolen Lives)
Manuel Moreno-Delgado: Shot dead by Officer Michael Pace 2:00am, December 22, 1996 while driving on Colorado Blvd. Officer Pace, who was off duty at the time, claimed Moreno-DelGado pointed a gun at him. Pace fired six shots hitting Moreno-Delgado in the head and chest. The DPD and the DA found the killing was justified. The Public Safety Review Commission examined the evidence and found Officer Pace had lied in his account of the killing. Immediately, Chief Whitman and D.A. Ritter claimed the Commission was unqualified to analyze the evidence. The Commission hired Bastiaan Cornelissen, a forensic engineer who has worked on cases defending police officers and State Patrol troopers in shootings, to examine the evidence. On December 20, 2001 Cornelissen reported to the Commission that Officer Pace had lied on several key points. Pace had opportunity to escape without firing, Moreno-Delgado braked and Pace slowed his vehicle to wait for him to catch up. The first two shots were aimed back at Moreno-Delgado. Moreno-Delgado did have a gun, but it was tucked between his legs where Pace could not have seen it (until afterwards). Evidence shows Moreno-Delgado could not have been raising the gun as Pace has claimed. (Rocky Mountain News)
Jeff Truax: Jeff Truax was shot to death by off-duty Officers Kenny Chavez and Andrew Clarry on March 20, 1996 in the parking lot of a lounge where the two officers moonlighted as bouncers. The Officers followed Truax and his companions out of the lounge. Officers claimed Truax tried to back up over them in his car and opened fire killing Truax and wounding two passengers in his car. The DA failed to press charges but the police department did classify the incident as a bad shot and reprimanded the two officers. A jury in a civil action found the officers fired at the car as it was leaving the lot. Jeff Truax was unarmed when he was shot repeatedly in the back. The city finally had to pay $250,000. The two survivors were awarded $100,000. Although Chavez has since been involved in another (non-fatal) shooting of an unarmed man from behind, he has received two promotions and now serves as a Lieutenant. Chavez has shot several other people and a dog during his career, he is one of the most violent men on the force. Rocky Mountain News, Stolen Lives)
William Abeyta: Police were attempting to arrest Abeyta for car theft on January 18, 1995. Police claim Abeyta refused to pull over in the stolen Jeep. Police rammed the Jeep before opening fire. Officers Angelo Abeita, Frank Harrington and Doug Stephens fired 12 rounds at the Jeep killing Abeyta and wounding Michael Dennis. Abeyta was struck twice in the back and once in the face. The police ruled the incident a good shot and the DA did not press charges. A civil suit was filed claiming police opened fire after the vehicle was disabled and the police were no longer in danger. The city had to pay $300,000 in damages. Abeyta and Dennis were unarmed. (Rocky Mountain News, Stolen Lives)
Clinton Brown: Shot dead by Officer Edmund Gray on December 13, 1994. Because it was on off-duty incident the police declined to review the shooting. However, the DA did file charges. Although Gray was acquitted in the criminal trial, the city was forced to pay $400,000 in damages. (Rocky Mountain News)
Steven Gant: Shot and killed by Officer Michael Blake on September 1, 1992. Gant was unarmed and wearing only boxer shorts when he was cornered in a stairwell in the backyard of a Capitol Hill residence. People in the building heard Gant plead for his life before the fatal shots were fired. Police claimed they thought Gant was armed. The police department ruled the incident a good shot and no discipline was administered. Blake was charged with second degree murder and reckless manslaughter but was acquitted. The city paid $55,000 in damages. (Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, Stolen Lives)
Story time..
A few months back I was supposed to work a midshift and earlier that evening a took some melatonin to help me fall asleep and ended up over-sleeping. Because of the nature of my job, when I didn't show up the police were called to come to my house and check on me.
I never heard them knock or anything, what if they had decided to do a "welfare check" on me and broke in. I own 2 guns, what if I came out with one to protect myself from an intruder?
Sounds like a hit to me.
Is it standard police procedure in Denver to "check on someone's welfare" with your gun in your hand?
The way I read the story, the cop found the guy with a "shoulder" weapon in his hand, and shot him. The cop's either Quick Draw McGraw or he already had his gun unholstered.
Is this maneuver taught at the police academy in Denver?
I usually back all those assigned to "Protect and To Serve" with uncommon vigor unless the evidence against their actions is over-over-overwhelming . . . but something about this case doesn't pass the smell test.
Also, can the cops in Denver just barge into ANY home they want without a warrant by saying they were worried about someone's "welfare?"
I agree with your comment further on down this thread . . . I'm disabled. I've been disabled for twelve years and oftentimes I can't answer the telephone or the door. Friends check on me all the time . . . most know where I leave a key for this purpose. BUT THEY ALL KNOW THEY'D BEST RING THE DOORBELL BEFORE THEY COME IN AND CALL OUT THEIR PRESENCE AFTER ENTERING!
Because, as oftentimes happens to us disabled Village Idiots, I've been burglarized twice . . . and I will shoot first and ask questions later.
Well, you'd be dead and your killer would back to work in less than a week.
you forgot the mystery surrounding john denver's death.... and the coincidence that the denver police had a new 50 caliber sniper rifle and could have easily brought down his plane...
but seriously folks, this is what happens when the police are stressed to the limits.
teeman
You didn't include the latest one of the disabled man that was gunned down in his bed because he was holding a coke can.
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