At approximately 9:00pm on Friday, March 9, 2018, officers with the Pomona Police Department responded to a call of a reckless driver in the 1400 block of South Palomares Street. Upon locating the suspect vehicle, a brief pursuit ensued when the driver failed to stop. The driver exited the vehicle after crashing, and ran into a nearby apartment complex. The suspect barricaded himself in a bedroom within an apartment and as officers attempted contact, began firing through the door. One officer was struck by gunfire, and upon attempting to assist his wounded partner, Officer Casillas was struck and fatally wounded. His partner underwent surgery Saturday morning and is expected to survive.
SWAT officers and crisis negotiators responded to the scene. The suspect was taken into custody at approximately 2:00pm Saturday.
Officer Casillas, age 30, joined the Pomona Police Department as a records specialist before becoming a jailer in 2015. He later completed the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department academy and was sworn in as an officer in September of 2017. He was just completing his field training when he was killed.
Officer Greggory Casillas is survived by his wife and two small children, and his parents.
Additional details and funeral information will be forwarded as available.
On the evening of December 24, 2017, California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Camilleri and his partner, Officer Jonathan Velasquez, were stopped in their patrol vehicle within the reverse gore of the Winton Avenue onramp to I-880 southbound as part of the CHP’s Maximum Enforcement Patrol over the holiday season. At approximately 11:20pm, a Cadillac sedan driven by a 22 year old male drifted off the highway and struck the patrol vehicle from behind. Both officers and the driver of the Cadillac were transported to the hospital. Tragically, Officer Camilleri’s injuries were not survivable. Officer Velasquez was treated and released from the hospital. The driver of the Cadillac has been charged with driving under the influence.
Officer Andrew Camilleri, age 33, began his career with the California Highway Patrol on August 22, 2016. He is survived by his wife, 12-year-old daughter, 6-year-old son, 2-year-old son, his parents, brother, and sister.
On August 30, 2017, at approximately 9:30am, members of the Sacramento County Auto Theft Task Force were conducting an investigation near the Ramada Inn located in the 2600 block of Auburn Boulevard in Sacramento. The task force is comprised of investigators from the California Highway Patrol, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, and Sacramento County Probation Department. Investigators located a stolen vehicle in the parking lot of the Ramada Inn. Two adult females entered the car. Officers attempted a vehicle stop on the suspect car, when a pursuit ensued. The pursuit terminated in Elk Grove, and both females were detained. Detectives found that one female suspect was on searchable probation out of the bay area, and registered to a room at the Ramada Inn. Detectives returned to the Ramada Inn to search the room. As investigators knocked and announced themselves, a male suspect inside opened fire, shooting two CHP officers through the door. Both are expected to recover.
The suspect then fired rounds from the balcony at deputies stationed at the rear of the hotel. Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff Robert “Bob” French was struck in the exchange. The suspect escaped in a vehicle and a pursuit ensued. The suspect crashed the vehicle just west of Watt Avenue, and again engaged pursuing officers. The suspect was struck by gunfire and detained.
Deputy Bob French, age 52, a 21-year veteran of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, died as he was being transported to the hospital. He was a highly respected training officer with the North Area Patrol Unit.
Deputy French is survived by three adult children, grandchildren, his sister, and his girlfriend.
On August 22, 2017, at approximately 7:55pm, Lakeport Police units were dispatched to the 900 block of Boggs Lane in Lakeport for a report of 4-5 subjects physically fighting. Units from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene within five minutes. Sheriff’s deputies observed a bloody subject run into the nearby woods and searched the area locating the male subject who was later identified as Alex Michael Castillo, 21, of Nice. The deputies attempted to take Castillo in to custody, but he physically resisted. Deputies deployed a taser and were able to place Castillo under arrest. Castillo was arrested for a domestic violence incident that was related to the original call. Castillo also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court related to a domestic violence charge.
Shortly after police and sheriff’s units cleared the scene, a Lake County Sheriff’s Department patrol unit driven by Deputy Robert “Rob” Rumfelt struck a tree on Hartley Road north of 20th Street. Deputy Rumfelt was part of the team who apprehended Castillo. Lakeport Fire Department paramedics responded and began life saving measures. Deputy Rumfelt was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, where despite every effort by medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries. It is believed he suffered a medical emergency while driving, just prior to the crash.
Deputy Rob Rumfelt, age 50, was a lifelong resident of Lake County. He started his law enforcement career as a police officer with the Lakeport Police Department in 1997. He left the police department in 2006 to work as a private contractor overseas conducting law enforcement training. Deputy Rumfelt returned to Lake County and was hired as a Deputy Sheriff with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in 2014. Rob was a Firearms Instructor, FTO, and mentor to many newer deputies with the Sheriff’s Office. He was also active in the community as an assistant football coach at Clear Lake High School. He is survived by his wife, Kelly; daughters, Brittany and Nicole; sister, Amy; parents Leslie and Robert “Bob” Rumfelt, mother Juanita Dixon.
On Saturday, May 13, at approximately 8:20 a.m., Deputy Jason Garner and civilian Community Service Officer Raschel Johnson of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department died in a solo vehicle crash while responding to a burglary call. The patrol SUV driven by Deputy Garner left the roadway near the intersection of Crows Landing Road and Seventh Street before striking a parked vehicle and dumpster. The collision caused the vehicle to become engulfed in flames.
Deputy Garner served with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department for nine years. He is survived by his wife and four children.
The C.A.H.P Credit Union has established a memorial fund in honor of Officer Chellew. One hundred percent of all donations received will go directly to his family. The C.A.H.P Credit Union is covering all processing fees and administrative responsibilities. Donations can be made on the C.A.H.P Credit Union website (www.cahpcu.org) or directly mailed to:
Lucas Chellew Memorial Fund
CAHP Credit Union
2843 Manlove Road
P.O. Box 276507
Sacramento, CA 95827-6507
On Wednesday, February 22, at approximately 5:45 p.m., California Highway Patrol motorcycle Officer Lucas Chellew was in pursuit of a motorcycle eastbound on Fruitridge Road east of State Route 99 in South Sacramento. During the pursuit, a collision occurred, causing Officer Chellew to lose control of his motorcycle. Officer Chellew suffered major injuries, and first responders on scene worked tirelessly to keep him alive as he was transported to University of California, Davis, Medical Center. Tragically, despite the valiant efforts of the paramedics and medical professionals, Officer Chellew succumbed to his injuries at approximately 6:11 p.m.
Officer Lucas Chellew, age 31, was an 8-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol. He is survived by his wife, Christina; a daughter and a son; father, Charles Chellew, a retired CHP captain; mother, Marion Chellew; and sister, Hanna Chellew, a CHP officer.
At approximately 8:30am on Sunday, February 20, 2017, Whittier police officers responded to a traffic collision in the area of Colima Road and Mar Vista Street in Whittier. Reportedly, one vehicle had rear-ended multiple vehicles. When officers arrived on scene the victims stated the suspect had pushed his vehicle around the corner. Officers made contact with the suspect and as they moved to pat him down the suspect produced a hand gun and opened fire, striking both officers. At least one officer returned fire, striking the suspect. Both officers were rushed to UC Irvine Medical Center. Tragically, Officer Keith Boyer did not survive. His partner was last listed in stable condition in the ICU.
It was later learned the suspect, a 26 year old known gang member, had been released on parole 10 days prior and was driving a stolen vehicle. The investigation is on-going.
Officer Keith Boyer, age 53, was a 27-year veteran of the Whittier Police Department. He is survived by his children and parents.
