Officer Involved Shooting - Update

Riverside, Ca- On Monday, April 3, 2006, at approximately 1:22 PM, Riverside Police Department Communications Division received a call regarding a suspicious person. Officers from the Riverside Police Department were dispatched to the 1700 block of Loma Vista Street. While officers were en route to the location communication personnel received additional information that witnesses described seeing the male subject exhibiting strange behavior, including screaming, yelling, exposing himself and jumping on top of vehicles.

Officer Michael Stucker arrived and contacted the subject in the 1900 block of University Avenue. He immediately began giving verbal commands to the subject, which the subject refused to comply with. Officer Stucker requested emergency assistance over his police radio and Officer Terry Ellefson arrived to assist. The subject was physically non-compliant to the point that the officers were forced to utilize their departmentally issued taser devices and an impact weapon. These weapons were ineffective and the fight escalated between Officer Ellefson and the subject. Officer Ellefson lost control of his taser, which was grabbed by the subject. Officer Ellefson feared the taser would be used against him because of their close proximity and fired his weapon at the subject, striking him twice. The thirty-one year old subject, with a last known address in the City of Riverside, was transported by medical personnel to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The Riverside County Coroners Office will be responsible for releasing the name of the subject, which is being withheld pending family notification.

Officer Terry Ellefson has been with the Riverside Police Department for three years. Officer Michael Stucker has also been with the Riverside Police Department for three years.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Detective Rick Cobb at (951) 320-8034 or Detective Mike Medici at (951) 320-8049.