Fugitive ex-LA cop charged with murder of officer

February 11, 2013 @ 7:03 pm


This undated photo released by the Los Angeles Police Department shows suspect Christopher Dorner, a former Los Angeles officer. Seeking leads in a massive manhunt, Los Angeles authorities on Sunday put up a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Christopher Dorner, the former Los Angeles police officer suspected in three killings. (AP Photo/Los Angeles Police Department) | Zoom
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) - Hundreds of tips prompted by a $1 million reward poured in to authorities seeking help finding the most wanted man in America, an ex-Los Angeles police officer who was charged Monday with murdering a Riverside policeman.

With thousands of officers around Southern California searching for Christopher Dorner, prosecutors in Riverside announced charges for last week's killing. Dorner also was charged with attempted murder for wounding another officer and firing at two others, Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach said.

Authorities obtained a no-bail arrest warrant, which allows Dorner to be apprehended anywhere, Zellerbach said.

The manhunt for Dorner, 33, began last Wednesday when he was named the suspect in the Orange County murders of a former Los Angeles police captain's daughter and her fiance the previous weekend. Hours after police announced they were looking for him, Dorner first fired at two LAPD officers, then ambushed the Riverside officers.

"By both his words and conduct, he has made very clear to us that every law enforcement officer in Southern California is in danger of being shot and killed," Zellerbach said at a news conference that was guarded by four officers armed with rifles.

Police say Dorner wrote a lengthy manifesto that was posted to Facebook after the double murder. He vowed deadly revenge on those in the LAPD responsible for his firing years earlier, and their families. Police now are providing protection for some 50 families thought to be targets.

The search for Dorner was focused in the mountains near Big Bear Lake about 80 miles east of Los Angeles after his burned-out truck was found there last Thursday. Authorities are searching more than 30 square miles day and night in the ski resort area and checking on roughly 600 cabins.

Police and city officials believe the reward, raised from public and private sources, will encourage citizens to stay vigilant. More than 700 tips had come in since the reward was announced.

"Now it's like the game show `Who Wants to be a Millionaire,'" said Anthony Burke, supervisory inspector for the U.S. Marshals regional fugitive taskforce. "Instead of one contestant, we've got 100,000, and there's only one question you have to answer. All they have to answer is where he's at, and we can take it from there."

The wide-ranging search has created unusually heavy traffic backups at California border crossings into Mexico, as agents are more closely inspecting each car. State police in Mexico's Baja California were given photographs of Dorner and warned to consider him armed and extremely dangerous.

Zellerbach said authorities believe Dorner will emerge at some point and try to continue carrying out his vendetta.

"I don't think he's done," Zellerbach said. "Just read his manifesto and look at his actions. He's trying to send a message, and it would be my belief that his message is not completed yet."

Dorner was fired from the LAPD five years ago, when a department board determined that he falsely claimed another officer had kicked a suspect. Randal Quan represented him during the proceeding.

Quan's daughter, Monica, and her fiance, Keith Lawrence, were found shot dead Feb. 3 in a car in the parking structure of their Irvine condominium. Last Wednesday, after discovery of the manifesto, Irvine police announced they were searching for Dorner.

Early Thursday in the Riverside County city of Corona, police say Dorner shot at two LAPD officers who had been dispatched to protect a possible target of Dorner's. One officer's head was grazed by a bullet; the other was unharmed.

Minutes later, authorities said Dorner used a rifle to ambush two Riverside officers, killing one and seriously wounding another. The slain officer was identified as Michael Crain, 34. The other officer's identity was not released to protect his family.

___

Abdollah reported from Los Angeles. AP writer Elliot Spagat contributed to this report from San Diego. Abdollah can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/LATams.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (38)


  • Add A Comment

  • DesertRez wrote...
    Nice job boys
    February 7, 2013 2:49 pm
    http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/ex-cop-manhunt-newspaper-delivery-women-shot.html

    Looks like good work from the Kops. These jackasses should be disarmed.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Exactly why we have a second amendment
    February 7, 2013 3:58 pm
    To protect ourselves from republicans.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Exactly why we have a second amendment To protect ourselves from republicans.
    February 7, 2013 4:38 pm
    Nice projection there...this guy is an Obama loving, gun control advocate who hates the right...just another leftist murderer. You'll probably dismiss him as insane, but how many leftists aren't?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    Once again CH get's it wrong...
    February 7, 2013 7:34 pm
    Read this guys manifesto dummy. He was all for "gun control", loved Obama and Feinstine and "crazy Uncle Joe". Can't blame this one on Republicans, as much as I'm sure the media will try. Or they will just some how "forget" all those facts of the story while sensationalizing and "reporting" on it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    rational
    February 7, 2013 5:02 pm
    King Obama to you.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    CH - King Obama to you.
    February 8, 2013 5:14 pm
    I stand...err...kneel corrected.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    aj
    February 7, 2013 6:54 pm
    How much did you pay that woman to stand next to you and allow her picture to be taken?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    Hahaha longway,
    February 7, 2013 7:35 pm
    That's actually pretty funny, but you are still a TOOL!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • okisoji wrote...
    The takeaway from this article
    February 8, 2013 1:40 pm
    "He was assigned to a naval undersea warfare unit and various aviation training units" read: SOCOM. That's Naval shorthand for SeAL operator. If that's the case, this guy is potentially far more dangerous than the media (or LAPD) are letting on by calling him a "Naval reservist".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    okisoji
    February 8, 2013 6:46 pm
    He's not an operator. Not even close.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • vern ivan wrote...
    Another one bites the dust :
    February 9, 2013 10:15 pm
    To make clear this event was inexcusable. There was no plausible resource, in his mind. When headed for a brick wall at 120 mph, might as well pin the throttle. Sad that suicidals seem to take innocents along their self destructive paths (:( (:)+--
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    longwayhome
    February 10, 2013 7:14 am
    BLAWN said he had a trophy wife and Ace Jackwagon tried to step it up a notch. Rent-a-wife? Wished he rented one with some Big Hooters[http://www.hooterscalendar.com/galleries] . Guess he wanted someone like mom. What are you laughing about xkop your old lady is no prize. That all I got to say about that!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • vern ivan wrote...
    Dorner:
    February 11, 2013 5:12 am
    Unlikely he would head into the north wood. That he slipped and slided to firmer ground would be a better guese I am thinking that Dorner has already taken his own life, as he should. Here is my thoughts. IF Dorner is comfromted, still alive, I would advise putting the gun in full auto.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpitantso wrote...
    1 Million dollars!!
    February 11, 2013 5:23 am
    Plus the millions cost for searching for him then the lawsuits for angry cops shooting middle age latino women in wrong colored truck.The reopening the investigation into the 2009 firing of former officer Christopher Jordan Dorner(lawsuit to follow) Economics damages and threat to co-workers cops is this guy doing a Bin Laden?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    XKOP wait till your wife reads your last comment
    February 11, 2013 6:13 am
    you won't be getting any tonight, but then its been years since you ...... her. Your to easy.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }