|
San Bernardino police say a 28-year-old man was fatally shot by an officer
after struggling with the officer and grabbing his baton.
Members of the dead man's family disputed the police's version of the
events.
Robert Polk, 33, of San Bernardino said he spoke to a witness who said his
cousin, Frank Ingram, was running away when he was shot.
"They said they shot my cousin right in the back because he was running,"
Polk said. "He didn't have no baton in his hand."
Ingram, of San Bernardino, died Friday after officers chased him and a
friend near Eighth and L streets after stopping the white sport utility
vehicle Ingram was driving.
Police said they were attempting to serve a warrant on the passenger, who
was wanted for questioning in three homicides, when the two ran from the
vehicle after being stopped.
Police caught up to Ingram in a driveway on L Street, where he fought with
an officer, according to a department news release. During the struggle,
Ingram took the officer's baton and hit the officer, according to the
statement. Police said the officer was in fear for his life and shot Ingram,
who died of his injuries at the scene.
Police said the officer suffered injuries during the struggle, although they
did not say what kind of injuries or if the officer required medical care.
San Bernardino County coroner's spokesman Randy Emon said Ingram died of at
least one gunshot wound to his upper body. He said further details would not
be released until the investigation is complete. An autopsy is planned for
Monday or Tuesday.
Both Polk and Ingram's father, Frank Ingram III, were at the scene shortly
after the shooting.
"What happened here was intentional," the elder Ingram, a Victorville
resident, said.
The younger Ingram had served time for attempted murder and was on parole
after being released from prison earlier this year, Polk and Ingram's father
said.
Polk said his cousin was "no choirboy" but "he didn't deserve to die."
Police identified the second man as Dequiente Booker, 23, of San Bernardino.
He was found hiding in the area and arrested on a parole-violation warrant.
Booker is also wanted for questioning in three homicides from earlier this
year, police said. The department did not release any further information on
the cases. |
