Charles Shinn III case.

[Guest]

You failed to mention that the dead man attempted to hit the police officer with his vehicle.

www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/08/09/sections/local/crime_courts/article_627793.php

[WaTcHeR]

Well lets just get this story more out in the open here and discuss it a little. By the way "we" didn't fail to mention anything, the stories are posted as printed.

Below are the two stories on officer Charles Shinn.


05/24/2005 - An investigation concluded that a Westminster police officer was at fault for inadvertently killing a wounded hit-and-run suspect after pinning him against a palm tree with his patrol car.

The investigation, conducted by the California Highway Patrol, also concluded that Westminster resident Hoang Tan Bui contributed to his own death Feb. 9. The incident caused an uproar in the county's Vietnamese-American community.

"This is a tragic event, and I am sorry that this happened," Westminster Police Chief Andy Hall said during a news conference this morning.

Westminster police officials said both the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the CHP have completed their independent investigations and were expected to submit their reports today to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

The DA’s office will decide whether to file criminal charges against 15-year Westminster Police Department veteran Charles Shinn III or if the investigation will be reviewed by a grand jury.

Westminster Police Capt. Mitch Waller said the completion of the reports brings the department one step closer to finishing its own internal investigation. Police administrators will be able to consider disciplinary actions and review department policies after they receive the sheriff’s report.

The incident happened Feb. 9 when a motorist flagged down Shinn's patrol car at Newland Street and Bolsa Avenue to report a car collision at Magnolia Street and Bolsa, sheriff’s officials have said. The motorist pointed to Bui, who was in a white sedan, and said he had left the scene.

Shinn approached the car to question Bui. About 30 seconds later, the officer fired at least one round as the car pulled away, officials said. Bui, who was not armed, was shot on the side of his left shoulder. A brief chase ensued, and the officer lost sight of the car.

Officials say that moments later Shinn spotted the car parked by a curb and saw Bui running. Shinn followed and, as Bui turned a corner, tried to steer his patrol car in front of him but wound up pinning Bui against a palm tree. He died at the scene.

<><><><>

WESTMINSTER – City and county officials on Monday were served a $40 million civil lawsuit from the family of a hit-and-run suspect who died after a Westminster police officer struck him with his police cruiser.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, alleges that officer Charles Shinn III used unreasonable deadly force when he shot Hoang Tan Bui and that the 14-year department veteran intentionally killed the Westminster resident in a Midway City neighborhood.

City and county officials, who have 20 days to respond to the lawsuit, declined to comment.

The lawsuit includes allegations that police officials knowingly hired an unfit officer and fostered and tolerated "an atmosphere of overt and tacit anti-Asian and anti-minority racism."

It also alleges that authorities failed to conduct a complete investigation, reported false information and destroyed material evidence causing the Orange County District Attorney's Office not to file criminal charges against Shinn.

Shinn did not return a phone call seeking comment.

CHP investigators deemed that the crash was accidental and the men both responsible. A Sheriff's Department report said the shooting was justified because Bui was trying to veer his car into Shinn.

The incident happened Feb. 9 when Shinn tried to question Bui at the intersection of Newland Street and Bolsa Avenue about a hit-and-run accident that just occurred, police said. Bui drove off and Shinn fired into the car, hitting him in the left shoulder.

Bui drove to a nearby neighborhood, got out of the car and ran. Shinn clipped Bui at 12 mph with the front left portion of the patrol car, pushing him about 5 feet. The impact caused serious injuries to the back of Bui's head, the CHP reported. Bui was pinned under the patrol car and against a 7-foot palm tree. He died at the scene.

[WaTcHeR]

Shinn approached the car to question Bui. About 30 seconds later, the officer fired at least one round as the car pulled away, officials said. Bui, who was not armed, was shot on the side of his left shoulder. A brief chase ensued, and the officer lost sight of the car.

Would be nice to see officers Shinn report on why he would shoot at an unarmed citizen and/or risk other people lives?


It also alleges that authorities failed to conduct a complete investigation, reported false information and destroyed material evidence causing the Orange County District Attorney's Office not to file criminal charges against Shinn.

Reported false information and destroyed evidence and failed to conduct a complete investigation. I'm sure this isn't the first time this has happened. I guess we will just have to wait for it to go to court to find out the "truth," unless the city "settles" out of court and I bet you they do.


Bui drove to a nearby neighborhood, got out of the car and ran. Shinn clipped Bui at 12 mph with the front left portion of the patrol car, pushing him about 5 feet. The impact caused serious injuries to the back of Bui's head, the CHP reported. Bui was pinned under the patrol car and against a 7-foot palm tree. He died at the scene.


I guess it makes officer Shinn feel like a man to chase down an unarmed person and run them over, oh lets not forget to shoot them in the back also.

[Guest]

watcher said:

Shinn approached the car to question Bui. About 30 seconds later, the officer fired at least one round as the car pulled away, officials said. Bui, who was not armed, was shot on the side of his left shoulder. A brief chase ensued, and the officer lost sight of the car.

Would be nice to see officers Shinn report on why he would shoot at an unarmed citizen and/or risk other people lives?

A vehicle can be a weapon... Bui swerved at the cop.
He already had committed hit and run.
If he'd simply done the right thing, he'd be alive today.
Doesn't sound like a "unarmed citizen" to me... sounds like a criminal resisting arrest and committing assault with his vehicle.
The fact that he was ACCIDENTALLY killed via the same method he attempted to use seems ironic.

[WaTcHeR]

Guest said:

watcher said:

A vehicle can be a weapon... Bui swerved at the cop.
He already had committed hit and run.
If he'd simply done the right thing, he'd be alive today.
Doesn't sound like a "unarmed citizen" to me... sounds like a criminal resisting arrest and committing assault with his vehicle.
The fact that he was ACCIDENTALLY killed via the same method he attempted to use seems ironic.

Well I have to assume that Bui "allegedly" swerved at the officer. I haven't seen the video "if there was one," nor any witness statements that the incident actually happened, other than what officer Charles Shinn said.

"An investigation concluded that a Westminster police officer Charles Shinn was at fault for inadvertently killing a wounded hit-and-run suspect after pinning him against a palm tree with his patrol car."

"Bui drove to a nearby neighborhood, got out of the car and ran. Shinn clipped Bui at 12 mph with the front left portion of the patrol car, pushing him about 5 feet. The impact caused serious injuries to the back of Bui's head, the CHP reported. Bui was pinned under the patrol car and against a 7-foot palm tree. He died at the scene."

Officer Charles Shinn was acting like he was hunting down a wounded animal and his only intentions was to finish the job.

[guest]

Do you even recognize that you are engaging in pure conjecture with very little evidence?

[WaTcHeR]

guest said:

Do you even recognize that you are engaging in pure conjecture with very little evidence?

What you can't read?

Well I have to assume that Bui "allegedly" swerved at the officer. I haven't seen the video "if there was one," nor any witness statements that the incident actually happened, other than what officer Charles Shinn said.

Why don't you post the actual reports and witness statements for us on here?

But what I am going on is the following:

"An investigation concluded that a Westminster police officer Charles Shinn was at fault for inadvertently killing a wounded hit-and-run suspect after pinning him against a palm tree with his patrol car."

Did you miss it again, here it is:

Westminster police officer Charles Shinn was at fault.

[guest]

From your own post...

CHP investigators deemed that the crash was accidental and the men both responsible. A Sheriff's Department report said the shooting was justified because Bui was trying to veer his car into Shinn.

[WaTcHeR]

That's is correct, that was from the CHP investigation.

The original investigation and I assume it was done by the Westminster Police Department, concluded that their own officer was at fault for the murder.

[Guest]

So I guess it's okay for a drunk (.20 BAC) driver who just fled from the scene of an accident to attempt to run down the officer trying to apprehend him in the interest of protecting the community?

Even the articles you post indicate that Bui "contributed to his own death". Seems interesting that you are willing to give a convicted murderer and gang member (Bui killed an innocent 15 yr old boy during a gang shootout) the benefit of the doubt while convicting the officer based on minimal information you read in the paper.

Try doing a Google search on the suspect Bui. It's all there in black and white, but I'm sure you will discount it because it is obvious that your issue is with "cops" and not criminals.

[WaTcHeR]

Guest said:

So I guess it's okay for a drunk (.20 BAC) driver who just fled from the scene of an accident to attempt to run down the officer trying to apprehend him in the interest of protecting the community?

Even the articles you post indicate that Bui "contributed to his own death". Seems interesting that you are willing to give a convicted murderer and gang member (Bui killed an innocent 15 yr old boy during a gang shootout) the benefit of the doubt while convicting the officer based on minimal information you read in the paper.

Try doing a Google search on the suspect Bui. It's all there in black and white, but I'm sure you will discount it because it is obvious that your issue is with "cops" and not criminals.

So now the police are the judge, jury and executioner? At least with officer Shinn you think it's ok.

Where is the video of officer Shinn shooting at the suspect? What witness statements are there, other than just one side of the story from officer Shinn?

What threat was the suspect after pulling away from officer Shinn? Did the suspect turn around to hit officer Shinn? Did the suspect put the car in reverse to harm officer Shinn? What made officer Shinn "fear for his life," to discharge his firearm? "Trying to veer his car into Shinn?" That's the best the investigation could come up with?

Was the suspect shot from the side of the vehicle or from the back? If Shinn shot him from behind, then how is the suspect a threat to the officer?

Is there a video from officer Shinn patrol car showing him run over the suspect, who wasn't trying to harm anyone? What made officer Shinn "fear for his life," to run over a suspect? The suspects only crime it seems at the time was trying to run away.