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'What's the justification?' Officer in Southern California punches man after fatally shooting him

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'What's the justification?' Officer in Southern California punches man after fatally shooting him

New video taken moments after police fatally shot a man in San Bernardino County Tuesday shows an officer violently striking the suspect in the face three times after he had been shot and was on the ground.  

The deadly encounter occurred when an officer with the Fontana Police Department responded to the area of Chery Avenue and Baseline Road just before 2:20 p.m. on reports of a man armed with a metal pole assaulting a person and damaging property.  

Authorities say the suspect, now identified as 44-year-old Fontana resident Jesus Garcia, also smashed computers and registers in a nearby AutoZone.  

Police say the responding officer attempted to de-escalate the situation, but the man refused multiple commands to drop the weapon and surrender.   

“During the encounter, the suspect attacked the officer with the pipe, resulting in a lethal force response from the officer,” a Fontana PD news release stated.   

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“It was like four or five shots that caught my attention and then I got out of my car and saw a person on the floor,” Arturo Garcia who witnessed the beating in the parking lot told KTLA.  

Footage of the incident shows the 44-year-old suspect on the ground in the parking lot writhing from one side to another on his back after being shot. An officer is then seen putting on gloves and telling Garcia to get on his stomach.  

As he attempts to get on his stomach, the officer steps over him, rolls him onto his back and strikes him in the face three times until Garcia goes completely limp.  

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  • Fontana police fatal shooting
  • Fontana police fatal shooting
  • Fontana PD fatal shooting
  • Fontana police fatal shooting

“I can’t comment on whether it was appropriate or not,” Steve Reed, with the Fontana Police Department, told KTLA’s Shelby Nelson. “When we’re trying to detain someone, we have to take the force necessary to make that detention. Like I said, from the video, it appears he was actively resisting.”  

Officials at the police department said they were aware of videos circulating on social media showing the beating after Garcia was shot and added that the video only showed a portion of the incident.  

“It is important to note that this video only shows a small portion of the event in its entirety. The Fontana Police Department is conducting an internal administrative investigation into the entirety of the incident,” a Fontana PD news release stated.  

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Reserve officer Dennis Zine has worked in law enforcement for more than 55 years and believes the shooting portion of the encounter was likely justified because the suspect attacked the officer.  

It’s what happened before the officer eventually handcuffed the 44-year-old and rendered aid that he feels puts the officer’s actions into question.  

“The individual was neutralized, he’s no longer a threat to you,” Zine explained. “The man is on the ground, he has no weapons in his hands. What’s the justification for striking?” 

The 44-year-old was later taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.  

The officer was also taken to the hospital for injuries sustained during the ordeal, though the extent of his injuries and current condition are unclear.  

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Per protocol, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department will handle the investigation into the incident.  

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Los Angeles, Ca

Vehicle, 2 occupants plunge into crowded Southern California harbor

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Vehicle, 2 occupants plunge into crowded Southern California harbor

Two people were taken to the hospital after a vehicle they were inside plunged into the harbor Sunday night in Marina Del Rey, officials confirmed to KTLA.  

Details are limited and It’s unclear exactly how the incident occurred, but authorities with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to 4675 Admiralty Way just after 6 p.m. on reports of the vehicle in the water.  

L.A. County Fire Department Public Information Officer Marco Rodriguez said the two occupants were able to get themselves out of the vehicle after it went into the water.  

Both were examined by medical personnel with the fire department and taken to a nearby hospital in unknown condition.  

Rodriguez said that two L.A. County Lifeguard divers were deployed to ensure there were no other occupants trapped in the vehicle.  

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  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor

A witness, Johnny Hamcheck, told KTLA that a third person, a woman, exited the vehicle before it went into water, though officials did not confirm that detail.  

Footage of the recovery effort showed crews attaching large yellow floating devices to the vehicle as it was anchored to a crane and eventually pulled out of the water and loaded onto a tow truck.  

The vehicle showed heavy front-end damage, presumably from crashing through the steel railing and into the water.  

An investigation into the crash is ongoing and no further details were provided.  

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Los Angeles, Ca

Armed robbers hit couple in broad daylight on high-end Beverly Hills street

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Armed robbers hit couple in broad daylight on high-end Beverly Hills street

Two people were hospitalized after a broad daylight armed robbery on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills Sunday, police confirmed to KTLA.  

Officers with the Beverly Hills Police Department responded to the 400 block of North Rodeo Drive, at the intersection of Brighton Way just before 1:30 p.m. on reports of the incident.  

According to a BHPD news release, a man and a woman were waiting outside a boutique when they were approached by four suspects, one of whom pulled out a gun during a physical altercation between the victims and the suspects.  

“During the altercation, the suspects forcibly took two designer handbags – one from each victim – containing cash and cellphones,” police said. “One cellphone was recovered nearby. The suspects also attempted to steal the male victim’s jewelry but were unsuccessful.”  

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  • Beverly Hills armed robbery
  • Beverly Hills armed robbery
  • Beverly Hills armed robbery

In video of a portion of the incident obtained by KTLA, four suspects all wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts can be seen running from the scene. At least one of the suspects has an item, possibly one of the handbags, in his hands.  

The crew was last seen running up Rodeo Drive and ducking into an alleyway. 

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It is unclear if anyone was injured, but the male victim was seen on the ground as the victim and another person knelt over him, one of which was yelling for help.  

Medical personnel with the Beverly Hills Fire Department responded to the incident, but authorities said the man and woman sought their own medical attention at a local hospital.

Their conditions were not immediately available.

An investigation into the robbery remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact BHPD at 310-285-2125. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.com.  

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Los Angeles, Ca

Authorities searching for at-risk missing teen last seen in Lancaster

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Authorities searching for at-risk missing teen last seen in Lancaster

Authorities in Los Angeles County are searching for a teenage girl they say could be at risk.

According to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, 13-year-old Aleah Ashley Salgado was last seen at 11 p.m. Friday night on the 3000 block of East Avenue H-2 in Lancaster.

Authorities say her family is concerned for her well being.

Salgado was described as Hispanic, 5-foot-4 and 120 pounds, with long black wavy hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, grey sweatpants and black shoes.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Lancaster Station at 661-948-8466.

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