Post by scpg02 on Feb 4, 2011 4:53:46 GMT
Elk Grove suspect shot while handcuffed had threatened to shoot cops, police say
By Loretta Kalb
lkalb@sacbee.com
A handcuffed suspect grazed in the face by an Elk Grove Police officer's rifle shot early Sunday had threatened officers shortly before the incident and told them he was armed, the department revealed today.
John Hasselbein, 32, was arrested at the 8600 block of Callippe Way before 3 a.m. Sunday after his wife called to complain that he had threatened her. In previous reports of the incident, the limited information released said that Hasselbein had moved around in the back seat of the police cruiser while handcuffed. But there had been no report that he also had threatened officers or that he told them he had a gun, the Elk Grove Police Department said today.
In the more detailed preliminary report issued today, authorities said Hesselbein refused initially to leave the house, where the couple's 2 1/2-year-old daughter remained. He verbally threatened an officer before leaving the residence and remained by a security door in a "shooting position," according to the report from department spokesman Officer Christopher Trim.
A few minutes later he walked out and was searched, and no weapon was found. He was then handcuffed and taken to the patrol cruiser, the report said.
But while in the back seat of the patrol vehicle, Hesselbein suddenly started shouting that he had a gun and made quick movements as if he did, police said. An officer using the computer in the driver's seat quickly left the car and told other officers that Hesselbein said he was armed.
The report said Hesselbein moved his hands toward his rear waist band and ignored officers' commands to keep his hands visible.
"Hesselbein stretched his body away from the officers and reached below the backside of his waistband where his hands were in his pants positioning as if he was aiming a weapon," the report said. "Believing that Hesselbein was about to shoot a weapon and fearing for his safety, along with the safety of the other officers present, the officer with the rifle fired a single round that grazed the left side of Hesselbein's face."
He was then taken from the vehicle, and no weapon was found on him, police said. They called paramedics and he was taken Kaiser Permanente for medical treatment before booking
A check of Sacramento County court records shows Hesselbein was sentenced in 1998 for involuntary manslaughter in the 1997 shooting death of Richard Cassel inside Cassel's home.
Elk Grove Police Chief Robert Lehner, asked for a comment, said that every officer-involved shooting is reviewed exhaustively to determine if policies, procedures and training were followed.
"These reviews cannot reasonably occur until the investigation into the incident is complete. In this case, there are a number of details that still require verification, " Lehrner said.
He said he expected the case to be ready for the district attorney late next week, with the department's own internal review beginning after the district attorney's work is conducted.
"In the meantime, I would ask that people reserve judgment about the appropriateness, or not, of the actions of all parties associated with this case until such time as all of the information is available and the reviews have been completed," he said.
blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/02/elk-grove-cop-s.html
By Loretta Kalb
lkalb@sacbee.com
A handcuffed suspect grazed in the face by an Elk Grove Police officer's rifle shot early Sunday had threatened officers shortly before the incident and told them he was armed, the department revealed today.
John Hasselbein, 32, was arrested at the 8600 block of Callippe Way before 3 a.m. Sunday after his wife called to complain that he had threatened her. In previous reports of the incident, the limited information released said that Hasselbein had moved around in the back seat of the police cruiser while handcuffed. But there had been no report that he also had threatened officers or that he told them he had a gun, the Elk Grove Police Department said today.
In the more detailed preliminary report issued today, authorities said Hesselbein refused initially to leave the house, where the couple's 2 1/2-year-old daughter remained. He verbally threatened an officer before leaving the residence and remained by a security door in a "shooting position," according to the report from department spokesman Officer Christopher Trim.
A few minutes later he walked out and was searched, and no weapon was found. He was then handcuffed and taken to the patrol cruiser, the report said.
But while in the back seat of the patrol vehicle, Hesselbein suddenly started shouting that he had a gun and made quick movements as if he did, police said. An officer using the computer in the driver's seat quickly left the car and told other officers that Hesselbein said he was armed.
The report said Hesselbein moved his hands toward his rear waist band and ignored officers' commands to keep his hands visible.
"Hesselbein stretched his body away from the officers and reached below the backside of his waistband where his hands were in his pants positioning as if he was aiming a weapon," the report said. "Believing that Hesselbein was about to shoot a weapon and fearing for his safety, along with the safety of the other officers present, the officer with the rifle fired a single round that grazed the left side of Hesselbein's face."
He was then taken from the vehicle, and no weapon was found on him, police said. They called paramedics and he was taken Kaiser Permanente for medical treatment before booking
A check of Sacramento County court records shows Hesselbein was sentenced in 1998 for involuntary manslaughter in the 1997 shooting death of Richard Cassel inside Cassel's home.
Elk Grove Police Chief Robert Lehner, asked for a comment, said that every officer-involved shooting is reviewed exhaustively to determine if policies, procedures and training were followed.
"These reviews cannot reasonably occur until the investigation into the incident is complete. In this case, there are a number of details that still require verification, " Lehrner said.
He said he expected the case to be ready for the district attorney late next week, with the department's own internal review beginning after the district attorney's work is conducted.
"In the meantime, I would ask that people reserve judgment about the appropriateness, or not, of the actions of all parties associated with this case until such time as all of the information is available and the reviews have been completed," he said.
blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/02/elk-grove-cop-s.html