Posted on 10/06/2009 9:34:39 PM PDT by Chet 99
911 call records homeowner being shot by Phoenix PD
Reported by: ABC15.com staff, wire reports
Last Update: 7:20 pm
Man shot by Phoenix PD files $5.75 million claim
PHOENIX – The 911 call made by a Phoenix homeowner before he was shot six times by Phoenix police has been released.
Tony Arambula is seeking $5.75 million in damages for himself and his family after he was shot on September 17, 2008 after officers responded to a call about an intruder inside Arambula's central Phoenix home.
The claim, filed by Phoenix attorney Michael Manning on behalf of Arambula, names the city, its police department, the officer who shot Arambula and two other officers.
Phoenix police declined to comment on the shooting or the pending claim.
The night of the shooting, Arambula said an intruder had broken into his home.
Arambula called 911 and told police he was holding the intruder at gunpoint.
As officers arrived, Arambula's wife Lesley said she told them her husband was inside the house holding a gun on the intruder.
"I told them my husband was inside, he was the one with the gun," she said Tuesday.
The officers entered the house with a shout of "Police!"
Almost immediately afterward, Phoenix police Officer Brian Lilly shot Arambula in the back.
Three more shots were fired at Arambula, one hitting him in the arm.
The incident was recorded during Arambula’s 911 call.
Listen to the call.
The claim said that when Arambula fell to the floor, Lilly shot him two more times.
That's when Arambula told Lilly he'd shot the wrong man.
In his Internal Affairs interview, Lilly admitted firing at Arambula without any verbal warning, according to the claim.
Arambula said he did everything he was supposed to do in that situation.
"I would have loved if they would have told me to get on the floor and drop to my knees," Arambula said. "To not have given me any opportunity to not get shot, it's confusing. I pray that this never happens to another family."
They’ll get promotions and raises I am sure.
Nope. I disagree on this one.
That officer is one deep cauldron of kim chee!
It will continue to happen so long as families call 9-1-1 instead of finishing the job themselves. If one is going to call 911 out of some sort of humane feelings for the intruder instead of shooting him on the spot, one should have a dog or two on the premises so that the officers have someone to shoot when they arrive. If an officer has a dog to shoot it is less likely he will shoot the homeowner.
Command staff material no doubt...
Occifer D’OHnut. Wonder if the actual burglar got away in the confusion?
They will all be chiefs someday /sarc
This kind of crap is going to continue as long as the police are legally represented by unions and the public buys into the BS about officer safety, not puclic safety, being an officers prime objective.
Think again.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2009/09/25/20090925phxarambula0925.html
Yup. A good reason to keep a pair or two of handcuffs at home.
It will never happen to me, I guarantee- I will NEVER call the police while I'm holding a LIVE intruder at gunpoint in my house. That's inviting a disaster (this disaster in particular). Like the 911 operator asks in that redneck joke, Are you sure he's dead?, I will be sure!
Shoot first and ask questions later?
I don’t think they teach you that at the police academy.
Sounds like this cop thinks he’s Dirty Harry or something.
I don’t need to reconsider this one.
A $5.75 Million lawsuit will fix that just fine and the homeowner didn’t die. No police department can continue to function well with that kind of adverse publicity if they get operations funding from taxpayers. There will be accountability even though it sounds as though the Police Department is stone deaf.
But I do have to say this: Phoenix is someplace you couldn’t pay me enough to live. It has nothing to do with the cops, but the thankless job they have policing an illegal alien santuary city rife with Mexican narco gangsters.
Uh, handcuffs are for taking prisoners- why would anyone want to do that?
Went in with clouded head, not comprehending what he had just been told, and of course “guy with gun” means “bad guy” to Occifer D’OHnut.
Unfortunately for you, modern forensics are now good enough that you do not stand much of a chance if you try to “shoot, shovel, and shut up.”
Have thought this scenario through over and over, and never have been able to see any chance of a good outcome. Even if every responding officer knew me personally, I wouldn’t want to take the chance just so some scumbag who broke into my house can live. Especially with family present.
When did it ever become a good idea to use a gun to hold someone for the police? Sounds like this guy was too nice for his own good.
Read Scalia’s opinion in the Heller case
I think that it depends on where you live. Illinois has different rules than Texas.
This is not good for the Phoenix PD. I will wait for their rebuttal (if they have one).
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