WOODLAND HILLS—On Thursday, March 10, the Justice System Integrity Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed four felony charges, including perjury and filing a false insurance claim, against former LAUSD Officer, Jeff Stenroos, for his reported shooting hoax near El Camino Real High School on January 19.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck stated, “Today’s filing of four felony counts, including preparing a false police report, preparing false evidence, and one misdemeanor of falsely reporting an emergency, validates the results of the investigation done by Robbery Homicide Division Detectives (RHD).”
Stenroos claimed he was shot after he had confronted a man he suspected was breaking into cars near the high school. The report launched a massive manhunt in pursuit of the gunman, which involved hundreds of officers and police helicopters. The report also set up a large perimeter surrounding the area that inconvenienced thousands of local residents and students.
A little over a week after the reported shooting, investigating officers became suspicious due to his conflicting reports of the incident. Stenroos later confessed to fabricating evidence in support of his story. He was arrested and booked; however, several hours later he posted $20,000 bail and has been free on bond.
Chief Beck has made it known that he is no fan of the hoax and wanted Stenroos to be held accountable for his actions. Chief Beck said, “Officer Stenroos deserves no leniency and the charges he now faces are more than appropriate after what he put this city through.”
Jeff Stenroos is scheduled to be arraigned on March 23, in Van Nuys Superior Court. If he is found guilty, Stenroos faces up to five years in prison.
