Suspected Riverside Cop Killer Arrested

November 10, 2010 2:55 PM

(credit: Riverside Police)

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RIVERSIDE (AP) — Police and FBI agents swarmed a Southern California shopping center and arrested the suspected killer of a Riverside police officer who was shot to death while chasing a stolen truck suspect, investigators said Thursday.

Earl Ellis Green, 44, a parolee and resident of nearby Rubidoux, was booked for investigation of murder in the shooting death of Riverside police Officer Ryan Bonaminio, Sgt. Dan Russell said in a statement early Thursday.

Bonaminio was shot to death Sunday night after pulling over the driver of a stolen big-rig cab. The suspect had jumped from the truck and ran into a park with the 27-year-old Bonaminio chasing him on foot when the officer was shot.

More than a dozen officers, including members of the Inland Regional Apprehension Team, and FBI agents descended on the Riverside Target shopping center at about 8 p.m. Tuesday and arrested Green, the sergeant said.

After questioning by homicide detectives, Green was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for investigation of murder and a parole violation.

Earlier Tuesday, Bonaminio’s father pleaded during a news conference for someone to come forward and help identify a suspect.

“Let’s put an end to this,” Joseph Bonaminio said. “I’m looking for justice, that’s all.”

Bonaminio said his son’s shooting death was especially painful because he had been so relieved to have his son home after two tours of duty in Iraq as an Army police officer.

“It’s unfair,” the grieving father said. “I’m sure the emotions would still be there had he lost his life in Iraq. But the emotions are higher here. This is the United States of America for crying out loud. We’re a land of the free. And yet he loses his life doing what he loved to do.”

Investigators said the officer’s gun had not been recovered, and investigators were exploring the possibility that he was disarmed during a struggle and the suspect killed him with his own gun.

Bonaminio’s funeral will be held at a Riverside church Nov. 16.

Bonaminio was born and raised in Riverside, a suburb of 300,000 people 60 miles east of Los Angeles. He returned to his hometown to be a police officer, as he had long intended to do, after serving his Iraq tours and a stint in Germany.

John

YESSSS!!!! That trash bag has been caught!!!!! Now let’s string him from the tallest tree!!! I know it will not bring back the young courageous officer, but maybe it will help ease the pain from his loss. This would save us law-abiding taxpayers money at the 5 star state prison INN.

rachiel

@John, you racist pig, just because he was a black man that committed the murder this gives you the right to say hang him from the tree, put a noose around your neck, what about the white man that has killed a peace officer, what do you say? let him walk or just rot in jail? This man deserves a fair trail just as the next……

Josh Butts

Why you calling John a racist. He didn’t say lets hang the black guy from a tree! In fact John didn’t say anything about a black man. Who know, maybe John is black (probably not tho). Why when you think of a man being hung you think someone other than white. There are plenty of white people that where hung in the 1800′s
BirHurt

Hang him??? Maybe.. too quick of a death in my opinion.. either way.. the only justice for Earl Green is DEATH
Dubbs

thats NOT racist ! I am a African American Police officer, and I’d be the FIRST to bring the damn rope!!!! you are childish- men like Earl Green routinely PREY on others of his own community( african americans) and simple minded people like you accept diseased animals like him as just “part of life”.Thank God it was officer bonaminio who was brave enough to go after him, and sadly lost his life trying to take down this “dog”- his tragic loss helped put green off the streets, and away from hurting other blk folks and people throughout riverside..

John

i agree with u john

ogsco

@ John: Here here!
Nikki

@JOHN….Hmmmm. String him from the tallest tree huh??? WOW. What a thing to say. That man is black A criminal yes, black yes, but are we back in the south? Hmmmm. But I am very happy that they have him in custody and I am sorry that man was killed after serving his country so well. Its a shame. Too bad the justice is not swift like in my country. There are trials, but the sentencing is carried out quickly and justice is done. No appeals only the king can pardon you, and even that is far and few between. Good job FBI and LAPD for finding him.

Ed

I would have expected some hair brained comment like that from someone like Nikki regarding the “string him from a tree.” Oh please. Really? do you think the comment was racially motivated? Stop. There is no indicia of racism in that comment. This monster deserves not only to be shot but yes, hung from the tree. The comment is more frustration and anger that animals like this cop killer exist. Here Here John.
Saber 1

Nikki,
If you committed a crime of this nature, we would want to do the same to you. Get off the racial wagon. The ACLU is an anti Goverment firm, are you?

Rachiel

Saber it’s not about Nikki being of the racial wagon, justice needs to be served for what he has done, but to have such a negative tone about what to do with this man, because he is black is wrong. people like you and John, are the racist… my feelings go out to his family for the lost, and justice needs to be served. but to hang this man and stick a lethal needle in his arm will not bring that man back.. just as the white man that has killed an officer who is serving life without the possibility of parole, he should recieved the same.

Doug

I am happy to hear this jerk is finally in custody. Even if convicted, some famous Hollywood idiot will protest and say he was framed. Does the phrase free Mumia ring a bell to anyone? This is long from over and will not go away. BUT, I hope I am wrong. I wonder if he was on the early release program????
dbay

Ageed – i’d like to have him done away with rather than using the system to delay what he has coming to him. This is the lowest form of a human. That officer having served 2 tours in the war and killed by this dirt bag makes me sick. Give this guy what he deserves. -DBAY
Jesse G.

The needles death of this young and courageous police officer must be utterly unfathomable for his parents and family. May our heavenly Father God bring them comfort to know that they raised one of America’s heroes during this unbearable grief.

As for our Nation and our community, our hearts are also griefing in the loss of one of our best. It is truly unbelievable our insensitive our society and the mainstream media at large has become when tragic events like this take place.

MSN, CNN and others have on their front page web site the events of the stranded cuise ship, who got kicked of the stupid dancing show, the view and other junk of common everyday life in this nation of abundance. But where is the news about the soldiers killed yesterday on our many war fronts? Where is the news and outrage of how the world has forgotten of the many in Haiti who are dying daily of Cholera? Where is the news of the many American Doctors, Nurses and volunteers going there at great personal risks?

Where is the news on these and other mainstream web sites of young men like Officer Ryan Bonaminio, and women dying or putting their lives at risks daily so that we Americans can enjoy a cup of coffee at Star Bucks without fearing that a mad man will come in and kill us all. These headlines are at best on the 2nd page, if that.

My prayer for Ryan’s family:
Heavenly Father God, please hear my prayer for this family in their great unbearable loss. We pray to You the creator of all, and Justifier of all who love and follow after You. Grant this family comfort through Your Holy Spirit to know that as bad as things are You are still the Soveriegn One of creation and that there is no other beside You. Cause them to reach out to You in confidence that to those who know and love You that they shall receive mercy and comfort through the finished work of your Son and our Salvior Christ Jesus!

Amen.
wobbles

They should have just killed this guy. The ultra-liberal incoming Attorney General Hamilah Harris will try to block the death penalty for this cop murderer.

Rest in peace young man. Thank you for your service to your oh so often ungrateful countrymen against our enemies here and abroad. Your life was an example of the vitues that made this country great which so many have forgotten how to live by.Your service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Ofcr. J.

They didn’t just kill the guy because they are professional law enforcement officers not right wing red necks like you. The young man that died fought to defend this country against people who do not respect our freedoms, which sometimes come at a high cost. The people that founded this country also fought and died to protect those rights, so we don’t just throw them out the window to serve your inbred need to kill someone on the spot…even murders and child molesters and rapist. It’s called civilization for a reason.

Marcus

Thank you. I usually assume that people making all the “kill him now” comments are about half a step behind the criminals they condemn.

Susan

I am very sorry for the officer’s family, but can’t help wondering about all the other murder victims who do not have huge sums posted for information about their killers. Are their lives less valuable? Those in law enforcement know the risks when they choose that career and while they certainly don’t deseve to die or be nurt because of that coice, I don’t think they should get preferential treatment either.

J. MONTANA

Susan…Nikki
Read the STORY! This is the report of a 44 y.o. Black-Parolee who…
A) Stole a Rented Truck, this means he did not OWN IT!
B) Did not STOP/Yeild to a Law Enforcement Officer’s request (RED/BLUE Lights).
C) Fled the scene (after the stop), gee I wonder why?
D) Was in POSSESSION OF A FIREARM (Violation of his Parole)
E) Then…USED this Firearm, KILLING this Officer!

Are either of you READING this story or making a self-serving statement?

Do either of you know what it Means to SERVE YOUR COUNTRY? I figured NOT. You would ACTUALLY have to have been IN the Armed Forces of the United States. And then Swear an Oath (Promise) to Serve and PROTECT the public as an Public Safety Officer. I DO NOT have the courage to be a Police Officer. However, I did join the US Navy and then became a Firefighter. Big Deal! Tonight (Susan & Nikki) “Try” to imagine the constant challenge it is to do this type of job. And when you are sleeping know that people like Green are in custody (jail/prison) because of unselfish-courageous MEN… Like Officer Ryan Bonaminio!

duchess

he killed the officer with his own gun isay some retraining here so maybe this may not happen again you think……oh u missed that part?

mister s

Susan, in reply to your question. Yes. An Iraq war veteran turned police officers life is more valuable than most folks. The fact that he puts his life on the line to protect the public makes it so. Obviously large reward sums like this can’t be raised for every homicide victim, so let’s just be grateful that it still can for some of them.
Saber 1

I will not battle witts with an unarmed advirsary. Susan, are you protecting our streets or just another Joe citizen? Automatic death penalty without appeals if you kill any law enforcement employees. Done, next stupid comment Susan?

Brandy

Nikki — keep your hypersensitive, liberal race-talk BS in your own country — we already have too many of you here.
http://willblogforlols.com willblogforlols

DMX?!

rjsmitty

That was funny!

Spinks Edwards

Here Here, great comments. congrats.
Memo H.

Brandy: Hateful types like you should go back where you came from!!
devilsadvocate

5% of you are awesome, the other 95% are scarey and typical.

Losing a life is always reprehensible. So my condolences to the family.

Maybe the outcome would of been different if there was back up for this felony stop.

When on a felony stop, back-up is always a must. Chasing a guy alone into a wood line from a felony stop is really dangerous. Allot of LE tend to stop certain people because of looks anyway, not saying this guys did, but all seems out of the normal lines of protocal. If a patrol stops a person, especially alone, that patrol must exercise due care.

Then, not sure how they came up with this guy (the parolee), but without knowing if he was the actual one, as they are not saying how they came up with him, 95% are ready to lynch him without facts.

Sometimes having facts helps.
Bobby

Turn him over to the relatives of the slain officer and let them have their justice.
Bruce Robert Montague

I was born and raised into a generational U.S. Military Family. “North American Green Beret Special Forces!” I am Blood of Chief Pontiac, Chief Black Hawk, Keokuk, WhiteCloud, Wing, and Tensqawtawa…Anglo Jesuit as well.
Bruce Robert Montague

Don’t pin blame onto the fellow because he may in fact be innocent!

Michelle

How about the fact that they found the officer’s gun at one of his hang outs. Is that fact enough?

Bruce Robert Montague

If you are going to discriminate against me by erasing my comments while leaving others posted, then I will not participate ever again!
mike

Did not take long for cop hating idiots to get on this website……Every life is valuable, but someone with the audacity to kill a uniformed police officer needs to be caught, because there is no limit to what he will do.

I knew race would come into this….after all a white police officer was killed by a black man, if it were the other way around, would there be more sympathy for this poor ofifcer?

Marcus

Sounds like you are the racist. People that you don’t agree with are idiots, naturally, and a couple comments about race must mean that all of society is filled with bunch of liberals who love crime and hate white people. Nobody here has expressed any hate for the officer who was killed or suggested the suspect just be released because he is black and probably innocent.

If killing a cop deserves a worse penalty because that is the worst thing someone could do, then why be concerned that “there is no limit” to what they will do? By your definition, they have already done the worst thing possible.

mike

if he has the “fortitude” to kill a cop, he will kill anybody who stands in his way. A large reward is justified in this case..and I am just saying that people need to keep race out of this argument, if you read the comments above people were comparing our justice system to “the south” from the early 1900′s. That is despicable.

Veteran Neo

All that needs to be done is to have justice served..Just recently a white police officer shot a black man and his excuse was that he mistakenly drew his pistol instead of his taser by mistake..after the suspect was already on the ground not resisting arrest..the judge only gave the officer 2 years..but when it’s the other way around people want the death penalty..It’s amazing, now the public, we have to protect ourselves from police officers as well..And don’t forget about the officer that shot the unarmed Guatemalan. It sucks to get pulled over by a cop nowadays. Too much hate and violence..Remember POLICE “You’re Peace officers”..

tom s

Next time someone robs you call your crack dealer1

Sean

I dont understand all the lashing at “Nikki” I dont think you guys fully read her statement…there is nothing racially motivated in that other than she was commenting on “Johns” statement…..Then she went on to say that justice is swift in her country? So I dont understand the lashing…..Any @MIKE an officer is an Officer no mattter what color or race so yes it would get the same attention and it has in the past.
GySgt Nguyen

My prayers and condolances to his family and friends. He is a true hero. Semper Fidelis
&
Via Con Dios
RACHIEL

Lock this man UP, but give him a fair trail.. What he had done is totally wrong. and no person deserve to die for no unjust reason…. but hanging him and needles injections come on people.. as I said before the white man that has committed the same crime is in jail without the possiblility of parole with LIFE SENTENCE DOUBLE LIFE…….

ben

This idiot will live like a KING in jail for what he did! I can’t even beileve you would suggest that he not be executed. The family will never have closure for what happened to their son..

I guess when someone hasn’t experienced a loss like this they cannot understand, but know this….when a criminal kills a cop, he is treated as royalty in the pen, where you and I will be paying $100,000 a year to keep his sorry ass alive.

Bruce Robert Montague

My comment is moreso intelligent, compared against idiot! I have reason to believe that local law enforcement personnel is killing the children in South Los Angeles, and blaming innocent people for the crimes spitefully.

rjsmitty

Dude you need to stop your self . I have reason to believe you have been smoking something.

Bruce Robert Montague

Please do not forget, 85 percent of regional law enforcement personnel are foreign-born and considered the enemy!
Bruce Robert Montague

I have reason to believe that some law enforcement personnel are killing the children in South Los Angeles, then using perjury against innocent people to put the blame onto others.