Robbery suspect fatally shot by deputies in San Bernardino
Nov 30, 2012 (Menafn - San Bernardino County Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --Shooting Involving a Sheriff's Deputy in San Bernardino
Sheriff's deputies shot and killed a man suspected in several Inland Empire armed robberies early Friday after a nearly 12-hour stakeout at the Days Inn in San Bernardino where the man was staying.
Sheriff's deputies from the Specialized Enforcement Division came to the motel at 1386 E. Highland Ave. around 10 p.m. Thursday in search of the man, whose name had not been released.
"They had received information and identified him as a suspect in multiple armed robberies in Highland, Redlands
and San Bernardino," said sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Bachman.
Alan Whitson was at work at nearby Prestige Floors when he noticed police activity in the area a couple hours before the shooting.
"I saw snipers on the roof," he said.
Just before 9:30 a.m., the armed robbery suspect came out of his room.
"Based on his actions, an officer-involved shooting occurred," Bachman said.
Further details on what prompted the shooting were not released, but Bachman said the man was listed as a violent armed and dangerous suspect.
Paramedics took the man to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just before 11 a.m.
The incident drew more than three dozen law enforcement officers from San Bernardino Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Sheriff's Department.
San Bernardino police and sheriff's deputies each had members of their homicide teams at the scene. Sheriff's SWAT officers also had two armored cars parked at a burger restaurant near the motel.
Bachman said the number of officers called to the scene was needed because of the the large number of witnesses, including guests at the motel.
Tenants of a neighboring apartment complex gathered around the police tape and nearby businesses, watching the activity and trying to figure out how to get home.
Sean Butler, 22, said he came home to help his 79-year-old father.
"My dad called me and said he couldn't get in the house," Butler said.
Reach Melissa via email or call her at 909-386-3878.
Get the latest crime and public safety news on Twitter @IECrime.
___ (c)2012 the San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, Calif.) Visit the
San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, Calif.) at www.sbsun.com Distributed
by MCT Information Services
Copyright (C) 2012, San Bernardino County Sun, Calif.
