LAPD Officer Violated Rules In Fatal Shooting, Says Police Commission, Chief

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An oversight panel has found a veteran Los Angeles police officer violated department rules for using deadly force when he fatally shot a 70-year-old man wielding a pipe last year.

The Los Angeles Times reports the Police Commission sided with Chief Charlie Beck Wednesday in unanimously faulting Officer Charles Garcia for firing his gun and for tactics used before pulling the trigger.

Cellphone video shows Garcia firing at Alejandro Mendez as he stood several feet away.

Beck said Garcia and his partner should have taken more time to assess the situation or consider other tactical options. Garcia got the blame because his partner was inexperienced.

An attorney representing Garcia said he believed the officers acted appropriately to safeguard bystanders.

It is now up to Beck to decide what punishment, if any, to hand down.

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