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.

[elvis-lives]

“I want to know what that cop was really doing there at 4:40 in the morning. Was he sleeping? Drinking?”
_______________

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?

[dragnet2]

You bet. If this were the case, every damn pursuit would lead to immediately shooting the driver to death, since they are endangering others on the road.

It's safe to say, OCSD has their teet caught in the ringer big time.

Not to mention, I'd guess there are probably a whole lot of Marines in Camp Pendleton who are more than a little angry with OCSD, murdering one of their own, who was totally unarmed and had no weapon.

[utherdoul]

I’ve heard a number of stories fairly recently about cops shooting marines and other members of the armed forces. Wonder what will happen when they start shooting back.

[sport]

He was that tim and will be the next time.

[sport]

They are not through editing the daughtr’s statement[s]. Give them time. they will eventually.

[dragnet2]

crashing into a gate with his two daughters

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

refusing to obey legitimate commands of a law enforcement officer isn’t making you curious?

Not at all, unarmed people refuse to obey cops demands all the time, everyday, but they are not shot to death.

What has my curiosity, is the version of event from OCSD has changed repeatedly. This is the big problem here.

[RedMDer]

All contributions are for the Current Quarter Expenses.

[kingu]

The girls were in the back seat and not injured.

Two girls, ages 9 and 14, were supposedly in the back seat of a truck that was driving erratically, including a collision with a fence, where Dad leaps out after the vehicle came to a stop, and they remained in the vehicle until their father returns, and is then shot and killed in front of them.

The reporter's definition as to what constitutes injury does not match my own.

[dragnet2]

Never fly. They'd need to kill the kids too for that to happen.

I want to hear their version and their recorded interview.

Fact is, when I heard this: "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."

I immediately knew it was a flat out lie.

[SwatTeam]

BINGO I thought the same thing.

[matthew fuller]

"If I were this marine's family, I'd hire the best attorney possible, and they probably already have. "

I'm fairly certain that MANY lawyers are lined up to take this case, some likely pro bono.

[Slump Tester]

I say take their guns away and put 5 of the Marine’s buddies up against the pig and 10 or 20 of his buddies (who always stick together and cover each other’s asses) and settle this.

[Persevero]

Couldn’t he have just shot out the tires?

[dragnet2]

Well, when OCSD throws out raw meat, they’d better expect flies to land on it.

[clee1]

Too many trigger happy fvkin’ cops!!!!

They ere ONLY supposed to use deadly force to defend themselves or another!

Azzhats with badges!

[Bulwyf]

5 marines vs 20 cops? that’s not fair, better make it 2 marines.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

"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,"

...and so he shot their dad in the same vehicle the children were in. I'm sure those children really appreciate this deputy's concern. Why didn't the deputy prevent this guy from walking (not running) back to his car in the first place?

[editor-surveyor]

Until all of these kinds of “officers” are either dead, or in life lockup, all children are in danger, along with their parents.

[smokingfrog]

They must have that Minority Report thing perfected.

[Krankor]

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.