Deputy Says He Shot 'Irrational' Marine to Protect Kids in Car

Camp Pendleton Patch ^ | February 10, 2012 | Roy Rivenburg

[brityank]

Deputy Says He Shot 'Irrational' Marine to Protect Kids in Car

15-year veteran of Sheriff's Department says Sgt. Manny Loggins was about to drive away, so he opened fire to prevent a perceived danger to Loggins' daughters. One other deputy was nearby at the time.

The deputy who shot and killed an unarmed Marine sergeant after a predawn traffic stop said the Marine was acting so "irrationally" that it seemed dangerous to let him drive away with his two daughters, an official said Friday.

So when the Marine -- later identified as Sgt. Manny Loggins Jr. of Camp Pendleton -- climbed back into his GMC Yukon and turned the ignition, the deputy opened fire, according to Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Amormino stressed that he was merely relaying statements made by the deputy to investigators and "not defending" what happened.

"This was a very tragic event, we all feel bad for the family," Amormino said.

The deputy, a 15-year veteran, told investigators he was parked at San Clemente High School writing reports when he spotted Loggins driving "at a high rate of speed" before turning into the lot and crashing into a gate near the football field.

The deputy pulled up behind Loggins and radioed for backup. It was about 4:40 a.m. Tuesday.

Loggins, 31, stepped out of the Yukon and walked off into the darkness toward the football field, ignoring a series of commands made by the deputy. His two daughters, ages 9 and 14, remained in the vehicle.

Other deputies soon arrived and formed a perimeter around the back end of the football field in case Loggins was trying to flee, Amormino said. Because it was dark, nobody could see where Loggins was.

"About five minutes later, Loggins walked back toward the Yukon," Amormino said.

The deputy issued "a new set of commands" which Loggins again didn't follow, Amormino said.

"Due to Loggins' failure to follow the commands and his irrational behavior, including statements he made, the deputy had a deep concern for the safety of the children," Amormino said. "In the deputy's mind, it was unsafe for [Loggins] to drive away with the girls."

Amormino said he couldn't disclose what the alleged "irrational" behaviors or statements entailed, but said Loggins didn't appear to be intoxicated.

When Loggins got back into the Yukon and either started the engine or began trying to drive away, the deputy opened fire, shooting Loggins through the driver side window, which shattered. (The girls were in the back seat and not injured.)

Amormino acknowledged that this version of events differs from an earlier account released by the Sheriff's Department, in which the deputy reportedly opened fire because he feared for his own life.

"The real threat was for the lives of the children," Amormino said Friday. In a case like this, "some information becomes immediately available and some takes longer to get because witnesses have to be interviewed," he noted.

Amormino said this account came from the deputy who fired the shots. Another deputy was nearby, but "I don't know what he saw," Amormino said.

Loggins' daughters were also interviewed by investigators, but Amormino said he didn't know what they said or if their story lined up with the deputy's.

"Whatever the truth is will come out," Amormino said, noting that "a complete and thorough investigation" would be conducted by the Orange County District Attorney's office, which investigates all officer-involved shootings.

Results of the autopsy on Loggins probably won't be made public for a few weeks, after toxicology tests are finished and the sheriff reviews the findings, he said.

Loggins' friends and colleagues have questioned official accounts of what happened, describing the Illinois native as a kind and faith-filled Christian family man who would never disobey authorities or jeopardize the safety of his daughters.

[brityank]

More info from SD-U/T: Marine shot by deputy in San Clemente ID'd

Amormino said the incident began when a deputy was parked at San Clemente High, writing reports in his patrol car, and saw a Chevrolet Yukon speed by on Avenido Pico. The Yukon turned into the school parking lot and crashed through a barrier gate.

The deputy pulled his patrol car behind the Yukon and Loggins got out. The deputy gave some commands to Loggins, who walked toward the athletic field, then back to his SUV, Amormino said.

He said the deputy radioed for backup at some point, then something happened that prompted the deputy to open fire. A sheriff’s sergeant arrived after the shooting.

Loggins was taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where he died.

Still no info from daughters, or whether the lights and siren were activated.

[brityank]

I’ll play detective. The cop was alseep. The marine pulled into the lot to take a whiz, hit the gate, got out, went into field to relieve himself. Cop hears crash and wakes up. He drives over to investigate, sees a black man coming out of the field and returning to his car. He tells him to stop. Maybe the marine doesn’t know he’s a cop or just doesn’t doesn’t listen, gets in the car to drive away and groggy cop shoots him. I’m betting the marine was dead before the cop claimed he was stopping him for hit and run and child endangerment.

I do not disagree. Just the statement he fired into the Yukon with no regard to the danger he placed the children in tells me this stinks to high heaven.

[Krankor]

Or it’s possible the marine was just pulling in the lot to turn around and he hit the gate. He got out to look at the damage, suddenly a car pulls up, a guy jumps out, tells him not to move, the marine gets in the car to get the heck out of there and protect his kids, cop shoots him, then sees the kids in the backseat and makes up the child endangerment story. I’m guessing the cop was taking 40 winks when he heard the crash and he drove over to investigate. Of course, it’s also possible the marine was having some kind of mental episode

[Rebelbase]

Sounds like the black Marine shot by the white cop was a societal success. The black community will not riot.

[peeps36]

I didn’t catch the part where the deputy drew his gun and ordered the man out of the truck. When did the deputy decide to draw his gun?

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Don’t police carry batons and tasers anymore?

[21twelve]

“He said the deputy radioed for backup at some point, then something happened that prompted the deputy to open fire.”

Thanks for that very informative news article - those journalist sure can sniff out the details.

[brityank]

VIDEO and TV News Report

KABC-7 | Suspect shot by OC deputy was US Marine

They have a 2:30min. report showing the Yukon being trucked out in the morning. There is NO DAMAGE to the front end from a 'collision' with a gate or fence.

[TheOldLady]

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[CharlesWayneCT]

The group I thought we’d find here are the pro-CPS folks, who would argue that anything is justifiable if you think kids are at risk.

[brityank]

Might help to give the link:

KABC-7 | Suspect shot by OC deputy was US Marine

[Riodacat]

Loggins was from Joliet, Ill., and joined the Marines in 1998. He had a reputation as being a deeply religious (Christian) man who put a premium on his family and his work.

Aaron Banks, 28, who served with Loggins for a year in Hawaii, described him as a "poster boy" for the Marines.

"He was everything I wanted to be as far as a Marine and a person," Banks, of South El Monte, said. "He basically schooled me up."

He said he and his colleagues are confused by the shooting. "We're all upset," he said.

Sgt. James Chavis, 28, who also served with Loggins in Hawaii, said he was equally surprised.

"Manny was not one of those people who disobeyed commands," he said.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Well, I would like to hear his side of the story before we assume that everything the officer said was true.

oh wait, he’s dead, so I guess we won’t be getting HIS statement now....

[brityank]

Looked again - there IS DAMAGE to the left front headlight, and blue paint transfer on the lower left bumper. Loggins likely got out to see what he’d hit.

[dragnet2]

They have a 2:30min. report showing the Yukon being trucked out in the morning. There is NO DAMAGE to the front end from a 'collision' with a gate or fence.

Remember what I mentioned up thread?

crashing into a gate with his two daughters

Even that version changed. Initially, it was, "He crashed THROUGH a gate. Now it's "into".

Now there is no obvious damage?

[dragnet2]

Their original version changed. Initially, it was, "He crashed THROUGH a gate. Now it's "into".

The damage you are seeing is extremely minor, and what one would expect would happen in a minor parking lot bump/ incident.

[dragnet2]

Note the drivers side window is blown out.

Clearly the deputy was not standing in front of the marines vehicle, bit was standing on the drivers side door when the marine was shot to death.

[Ken H]

But this guy driiving at a high rate of speed, crashing into a gate with his two daughters strapped in the back seat at 4:40 in the morning and refusing to obey legitimate commands of a law enforcement officer isn’t making you curious?

Is the following your comment at the The Camp Pendleton Patch?

____________________________________________________

Elvis
4 hours ago

Yeah, no weapon a 3500 lb car couldn't possibly be a weapon, huh? The fact that the child was in the back proves the Marine had no regard for anybody's safety. If the Marine will gravely endanger his own daughter, do you really think he would take a second thought about taking out a bunch of people?

Police officers have a tough job that takes split second decisions. They don't decide whether or not somebody wants a bag or not. Lives hang in the balance. You want justice? Then support the decision to take potentially take a life to save many.

This I am sure was not and has not been easy for the deputy. He has to not only live with his decision, but listen to all of you people call him out. When you go through you day today and the toughest question you ask yourself is blue cheese or Italian. Think about how hard a life changing decision that is.

[dragnet2]

Good find. It appears elvis, if this is the same elvis, is totally ignoring that fact that never once did OCSD alleged the marine was attempting to run over the deputy.

In fact, when the marine was shot to death, the deputy shot straight through the drivers side window.

In fact the Sheriff's original version of events alleged the deputy feared for his life.

The new version is the deputy feared for the kid's lives.

OCSD bull sh** is up to the rooftops here.

[Krankor]

Well, they say everything is on the dashcam tape, so we’ll see. You would think if the whole thing was clear cut, they’d release the tape to alleviate any possible racial tensions. Then again, perhaps there’s some kind of legal procedure that has to be followed before they can release it. By the same token, if it was clear cut, I don’t know why the spokesman wouldn’t mention the dashcam tape. Instead, he seems to be concentrating on the officer’s “perceived threat”. I’m still bothered by the fact the cop was in the lot “writing reports”. If you’re allowed to do that while on patrol, I’m sure the cop would have to call it in- I know Reed and Malloy would.