Further <nobr>Follow-Up</nobr> To Fatal <nobr>April 23</nobr> Officer Involved Shooting: See LBPD Details On Officer's 2002 Officer-Involved Shooting

LBReport.com

News

Further Follow-Up To Fatal April 23 Officer Involved Shooting: See LBPD Details On Officer's 2002 Officer-Involved Shooting

LBPD says that after a shooting near 14th St. Park, the officer spotted the suspect in South Wrigley; gave chase in a foot pursuit in which the suspect pulled a gun and aimed it at the officer, who fired but didn't hit the suspect, who was caught and convicted; officer's action ruled within policy

LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. Support independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.

(May 13, 2015) -- In response to a request by LBREPORT.com [and we presume other outlets], at midafternoon today (May 13) LBPD has released details (text below) regarding a 2002 officer-involved shooting in which Officer Jeffrey A. Meyer was involved.

LBPD indicates that a few days after a shooting near 14th St. Park, officer Meyer spotted the suspect in south Wrigley (vicinity of PCH/Pacific), gave chase in a foot pursuit during which the suspect pulled a gun and aimed it at officer Meyer, who fired his weapon. The shot missed the suspect, who was taken into custody by another officer; the suspect was convicted; no criminal charges were filed against officer Meyer and LBPD determined his actions were within policy.

As separately reported by LBREPORT.com, LBPD officer Meyer has been with the Department for over twenty years, during which he received two commendations (1997 and 1998) and was involved in a Mar. 2011 taser user of force (LBREPORT.com coverage here.)

On April 23, 2015, officer Meyer responded to a call in the 1100 block of Hoffman Ave. (Central LB/Cambodia Town area) during which he fatally shot Hector Morejon, age 19, who was subsequently determined to be unarmed. LBPD provided its description of the circumstances in an April 24 release (coverage here.) Mr. Morejon's family, through its attorneys, subsequently released a statement (coverage here.)

LBPD's description of the March 2011 shooting in which officer Meyer was involved follows below.

[Scroll down for further.]

[LBPD text] On 03/23/2002 at approximately 12:19 p.m., officers responded to the 1400 block of Chestnut Avenue regarding a shooting. The victim (a male juvenile) had been shot in the leg and the suspects were no longer at the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital and survived the shooting. A police report was taken and the investigation continued. (Officer Meyer was not on this call)
Three days later: On 03/26/2002 at approximately 1:09 p.m., a citizen called the police and stated the suspects from the shooting on 03/23/2002 (mentioned above) were back in the area on foot approaching Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue. Officers responded to the area to look for the suspects. Officer Meyer was one of those officers. Officer Meyer located a subject at Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue that matched the description of the suspect. The suspect ran from Officer Meyer and two other officers who were on scene. The officers gave chase on foot.
As Officer Meyer was in foot chase with the suspect, the suspect pulled a handgun out of his pocket and continued to run from the officers with the gun in his hand. The suspect ran to the 1700 block of Pine Avenue. Officer Meyer, and the other two officers, were behind the suspect still giving chase when the suspect turned to enter the courtyard to an apartment complex. As the suspect turned to enter the courtyard, he pointed the gun toward officer Meyer, who was the first officer behind the suspect (the other two officers were behind officer Meyer).
Fearing for his safety and the safety of the two officers behind him, Officer Meyer fired one round at the suspect. The bullet did not hit the suspect. The suspect crouched down and entered into the complex. Another officer encountered the suspect in the courtyard of the complex and he was taken into custody without harm. The suspect’s gun was recovered inside the apartment complex next to an iron fence.
The suspect was then 20-year-old Jaharii Derrell Williams. Williams admitted during an interview he had a gun on him and admitted to pulling it out during the foot pursuit. Williams stated he dropped the gun over the fence of the apartment complex but denied pointing the gun at the officers.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed assault with a deadly weapon charges against Williams for the shooting on 03/23/2002. The DA also filed three counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer for pointing the gun at the three officers on 03/26/2002. Williams was eventually convicted of these charges. LA Court Case #NA052126.
No criminal charges were filed against Officer Meyer. The Long Beach Police Department found this shooting to be within department policy.

[Scroll down for further.]