LA Deputy Guns Down Man Sitting in His Own Car in His Own Driveway

[High Plains]

Edit: Edited the title for clarity.

But it's okay because he was "a suspected drug dealer." Oh, oops, he didn't have any drugs or weapons.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-ois25-2008jul25,0,7833440.story

By Ari B. Bloomekatz and Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
July 25, 2008
An unarmed man was shot and killed by a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who believed the suspected drug dealer was reaching for a weapon, authorities said.

Two deputies were patrolling in the 11000 block of Dalerose Avenue in Lennox about 11:40 p.m. Wednesday when they saw the man sitting in his car, said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Department. They approached the vehicle and the suspect was "physically startled, agitated and reached under his seat," Whitmore said. One of the deputies, "fearing for his safety, fired his weapon, hitting the suspect in the upper torso."

Christian Portillo, 35, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. No weapons or drugs were recovered from the vehicle, he said.

The victim's father said his son had done nothing wrong and that he watched in horror after the officer shot him in the family's driveway. "He was holding the door open with his left hand and the gun with his right," Josue Portillo, 61, said of the deputy. Portillo said he had been reading inside the one-story house when he heard gunfire and rushed outside. My son "was just sitting in the car," he said.

Los Angeles County public records show that Portillo had three convictions. Five years ago he was convicted of driving with a suspended license, and more than 15 years ago he was convicted on charges of vandalism and bringing drugs into a prison or jail.

______

Ya wanna hear something really funny? Here ya go:

Authorities said the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, the Office of Independent Review and the Sheriff's Department were investigating the shooting.

[High Plains]

1. Don't hold your breath waiting for the deputy to be indicted.

Killer cops almost always walk.

[exothermic]

2. Best Sheriff's Department money can buy.

:shrug:

[Spangle]

3. More then 15 years ago he was under 20

So WHY bring it up now?

And driving with suspended DL 5 years ago..

Yep, they shot a real bad fellow.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Three Strikes

and you're dead.

[ellisonz]

5. What else is new...

[SteveM]

6. Always bring up the War on Drugs, Inc., and you're home free (nt)

[norepubsin08]

7. Once again as I've said before...

typical arrogant pigs. Part of the problem is that we let the corporate media glorify cops...most of them are frustrated authoritarian freaks who failed in just about every aspect of their lives, specially in the military...almost all of them are on a life long power trip which they take out on innocent people!

[tuckessee]

9. Heck, many DU'ers glorify, even deify, cops.

They and the cop bunnies will probably avoid this thread but they are legion out there.

[malaise]

8. Kikll him in his own driveway and then

dig up some old charges - get over it they killed a criminal :sarcasm: :puke: