By Shawn Raymundo
A man involved in an altercation with sheriff’s deputies was fatally shot outside the Hotel Miramar on El Camino Real on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 23, according to authorities.
The shooting occurred after about 1:12 p.m. when two deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s homeless outreach team initiated contact with the Black man, Sgt. Dennis Breckner said.
After making contact, a physical altercation ensued wherein deputies wrestled the individual to the ground, eventually leading to the shooting, he explained. At this time in the investigation, Breckner couldn’t confirm whether the man was a homeless individual.
#OCSDPIO Deputy-involved shooting in San Clemente. Suspect is deceased on scene. PIO on scene, more to follow. Media staging on El Camino Real between Ave Cornelio and Ave Ramona.
— OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSheriff) September 23, 2020
“Shortly after they contacted him, a deputy-involved shooting occurred and deputies immediately gave life saving measures,” Breckner said. “Unfortunately, the male is deceased at the scene.”
Breckner said authorities didn’t know the details of what led up to the altercation.
“We don’t know the details of what led up to it and what exactly occurred immediately prior to the physical altercation,” Breckner said when asked whether the man was being arrested. “We just know that deputies had put out a radio request that they contacted a subject and needed additional units.”
Based on surveillance video footage from a nearby business, authorities believe the man attempted to gain control of a deputy’s firearm, Breckner said.
According to Breckner, the video didn’t show the altercation in its entirety, but it showed “what we believe and see is that there does appear to be an attempt to gain control of the deputy’s weapon.”
Authorities were not ready to release the footage Wednesday, Breckner said.
Carrie Braun, spokesperson for OCSD, said the release of the video will be at the discretion of the Orange County District Attorney’s office, which is conducting the investigation into the matter.
“That will be something we work with them on,” she said.
Braun said the two deputies were not transported for medical support. As to whether they have been placed on administrative leave following Wednesday’s shooting, she said deputies typically are placed on leave.
According to Breckner, OCSD will be conducting an internal investigation as well as the DA’s office.
Since the incident, the stretch of El Camino Real from Avenida San Antonio to Avenida San Gabriel has been closed to motorists while authorities conducted their investigation.
Breckner late Wednesday afternoon said the road closure is expected to remain in place for much of the evening.
Shawn Raymundo
Shawn Raymundo is the city editor for the San Clemente Times. He graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies. Before joining Picket Fence Media, he worked as the government accountability reporter for the Pacific Daily News in the U.S. territory of Guam. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnzyTsunami and follow San Clemente Times @SCTimesNews.
Praying for those Deputies and the deceased’s family. It is a tough job these days being a Cop. As a community we are so grateful for their service and dedication to protect the citizens of San Clemente. Thank you OCSD!
Dear Cops. Please quit killing people. Thanks!
If people respected police officers and obeyed our laws we would not have this problem.
So the family is suing for wrongful death whether that is the case or not. Why was this man abandoned by his family, who is now seeking monetary compensation for a family member whom they weren’t supporting? Let’s investigate the family dynamics as well as the officers actions. On the other hand if the man chose to be homeless and did not want support from his family when he was alive why was that? What caused him to alienate his family really? And if the man had a serious mental issues did the family really TRIED to find help for, why wasn’t that effort successful? What can society do take care of mentally challenged homeless individuals instead of letting them be a threat to themselves and society? All of these questions must be answered and not just blame our police.
Gasp at the truth as I tell it and as many people honestly wonder about as well. But most are shamed and harassed for speaking what is true. Frivolous lawsuits against the police are unfair unless all parties honestly look in the mirror to see what could have prevented such an atrocity.