By Gail Wesson
The Press Enterprise
SAN JACINTO, Calif. — A San Jacinto police officer, investigating a report of a suspicious person early Thursday, Oct. 18, shot a man seated in a vehicle who did not heed a command to show his hands and instead grabbed a dark object from the center console, according to a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department news release.
The man died later at a hospital. He was not identified, pending notification of next of kin. The officer responded at 1:24 a.m. to the vicinity of Garrett Way and Arroyo Viejo Drive in the Park Hill area of the city.
The officer found a vehicle in the 900 block of Hisse Drive, which appeared to have been broken into, and then heard the sound of a vehicle starting up a short distance away.
He went to investigate because he believed the vehicle may have been involved in the possible burglary, the news release stated.
The officer, who was not identified, was placed on paid administrative leave.
During the investigation, two vehicle break-ins in the immediate area were identified.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777; Investigator Doug Frey at the San Jacinto Police Department, 951-791-3400; or submit an anonymous tip to www.riversidesheriff.org/tipline.
Copyright 2012 The Press Enterprise, Inc.