LOS ANGELES—A civilian commission in Los Angeles ruled against law enforcement officers in a case involving violence against an unarmed man. The case is one of dozens.
The civilian commission appointed to investigate these types of incidents ruled against officers Allan Corrales and George Diego, citing violations of department policy in firing on an unarmed, autistic man in Koreatown.
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck challenged the ruling, saying that officers Corrales and Diego had reason to believe the suspect had a gun. At the time of the incident, police said that the suspect, Steven Eugene Washington, 27, appeared to be removing a gun from his waistband. Officers Corrales and Diego, acting in what they believed was self-defense, shot Washington in the head, killing the suspect.
Both officers claimed that they heard a loud noise and thought it to be the discharge of a weapon, as they were driving through Koreatown.
According to the report, the officers drove by Washington noticing what appeared to be a dark object tucked in his waistband, which one of the officers said had been pointed at him by Washington only moments before. Washington aimlessly walked towards the officers and failed to heed their imperatives, totally oblivious to the scenario unfolding.
The civilian commission’s ruling is one of three unanimous rebukes of Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck since he took over the position in November of 2009 amidst a crackdown on gang violence.