Southern California Authorities Accused of Arresting Man with Camera who Witnessed Them Killing Suspect

February 14, 2013

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Source: PINAC

Authorities in Southern California shot and killed a man Monday, then apparently arrested another man who had video recorded the incident.

That’s according to a comment on the Southwest Riverside News Network article, which is cut and pasted below.

Another commenter on a different article also alluded to video evidence exists that contradicts the official story line by authorities.

I sent that commenter a message in the hopes she can elaborate more.

But until then, we are left with the vague details provided by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which is not much.

Essentially, a parolee at large named John Christopher Armes was wanted in connection with an assault, so he was being tailed by authorities.

They ended up shooting and killing him, even though he was not armed.

On Tuesday, they could not provide further details because they were busy celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials said in a written statement that a parole agent working with a fugitive apprehension team shot Armes but they declined to release his name, citing the ongoing investigation.

According to the statement, the agent and other fugitive task force officers had been watching the Extended Stay Inn at Jefferson Avenue and Overland Drive in Temecula. They believed Armes had been staying there and might have a weapon. The officers saw Armes and a woman trying to leave the hotel in a taxi, the statement said.

Riverside County sheriff’s officials said officers had been following the mini-van taxi about 12:30 p.m. when they tried to approach it in the 40200 block of Mimulus Way, in a residential neighborhood near Winchester and Roripaugh roads. The cab driver got out but Armes apparently took control of the taxi. He collided with an unmarked law enforcement vehicle, a sheriff’s news release said.

Sheriff’s officials said the gunfire began after Armes got out of the taxi but they did not disclose what prompted the officer to shoot.

Corrections officials said Armes was trying to escape and appeared to have been reaching for a weapon.

Authorities did not disclose whether a weapon was found.

Sheriff’s officials said the parole agent who shot Armes was injured but they did not say how. According to the release, he was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life threatening.

Sheriff’s officials said Tuesday that they could not answer questions about the shooting because of the Lincoln’s Birthday holiday.