California man, previously deported in 2014, goes on 24-hour 'reign of terror' before
California man, previously deported in 2014, goes on 24-hour 'reign of terror' before dying in police chase
12/18/2018
A 36-year-old man who had been deported at least once and who owned a lengthy rap sheet died Monday after a day-long "reign of terror" in which he shot and killed someone, carjacked another person and led California police on a dangerous high-speed pursuit.
Gustavo Garcia, of Visalia, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on State Route 65 in Porterville when he was ejected from a stolen truck. Four others were injured, including one person who was in critical. Garcia, who was deported in 2014, had engaged in a gun battle with police and purposely tried to smash into other cars during the chase, officials said.
“We have one man that essentially [has] been on a personal reign of terror,” Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said at a news conference.
Garcia has a lengthy criminal record that dates back to 2002, including charges for illegal firearm possession and meth, according to the Fresno Bee. Before his 2014 deportation, Garcia had three Immigration and Customs Enforcement violations. Boudreaux wouldn’t confirm Garcia's immigration status at the time of his death or what country Garcia originated from.
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This undated photo provided by the Tulare County, Calif., Sheriff's Office shows Gustavo Garcia. Central California authorities say Garcia, who went on a robbery, shooting and carjacking rampage, died Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in a high-speed crash during which he intentionally tried to smash into other cars. (Tulare County Sheriff's Office via AP)
Garcia’s rampage started at around 1 p.m. Sunday when he shot a farm worker who was in the middle of unpacking fruit in Exeter. The farm worker was expected to recover.
Moments later, Garcia robbed a convenience store with surveillance footage showing Garcia firing shots at the ceiling and demanding more than $2,000 in cash, according to the Fresno Bee. Police believe the shooting of the farm worker was meant to be a distraction for the robbery.
At 7:30 p.m., Garcia shot a Motel 6 guest in the arm and chest in Tulare, police said. Her wounds weren’t considered to be life-threatening.
“She had made eye contact with the subject and he had followed her to her parking spot, where he got out of the car and for an unbeknownst reason began firing at her vehicle,” Tulare interim Police Chief Matt Machado said.
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The remnants of one of the vehicles involved in a California highway. (Tulare County Sheriff)
At around 1:30 a.m. Monday, Garcia shot up a Shell gas station near Pixley and then killed Rocky Paul Jones, 51, about an hour later outside an Arco AMPM in Visalia, police Chief Jason Salazar said.
“It appears his rampage and his acts of violence were random and they were not chosen targets, which makes it even more dangerous,” Boudreaux said. “This person was targeting anyone who got in the way.”
He then fired shots from the backyard of his ex-girlfriend’s Visalia home as she and her children were inside. Police said the girlfriend and her children escaped unscathed.
Garcia fired shots into a home in the Sultana area and then crashed his car after a two-minute police chase during which he shot and hit pursuing sheriff’s cars and deputies fired back.
Garcia then stole a truck at gunpoint from three farm workers and led authorities on a chase in which their speeds topped 100 mph on State Route 65. Garcia was driving the wrong way in traffic and appeared to be fixated on hitting other cars, California Highway Patrol LT. Scott Goddard said.
"We have one man that essentially (has) been on a personal reign of terror."
— Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux
Garcia died after smashing into four cars, leaving one driver in critical condition and the other three minor injuries, Goddard said.
He "had no regard for human life, Boudreaux said.
Boudreaux added that 12 crimes involving Garcia were being investigated but the case was ongoing, according to the Fresno Bee.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/californi...n-police-chase
California cops ‘frustrated’ with sanctuary laws stopping them from working with ICE
7 hrs ago
By Greg Norman | Fox News
A California sheriff whose officers were led on a wild chase earlier this week by a twice-deported illegal immigrant killer says cops are “very frustrated” with sanctuary state laws preventing them from working with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents.
The comments from Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux come following the death of Gustavo Garcia, a 36-year-old who police say embarked on a 'reign of terror' robbing a convenience store, shooting and killing a person and firing at buildings before crashing a truck that he had stolen. The day-long crime spree that began Sunday in the Fresno area also left five injured, including one critical, and Lindsay Police suspect Garcia was involved in an additional murder there.
During the chase Monday that ended in the crash that left Garcia dead, he drove the wrong way at speeds of up to 100 mph and hit four other cars – something that he appeared to have done on purpose, police said.
“We are very frustrated with the fact that the way the laws are set up currently that law enforcement hands are tied,” Boudreaux said Wednesday, noting that in years past, Garcia – who had been in police custody shortly before the rampage -- would have been handed over to ICE in cooperation with them.
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The scene after Gustavo Garcia crashed a stolen truck in Porterville, Calif. , on Monday. (Fox26/Tulare County Sheriff's Office)
The immigration agency says it placed a detainer on Garcia last week after he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance. But Boudreaux said he had no choice but to let Garcia go since state law prohibits him from honoring that request unless ICE obtains an arrest warrant with the signature of a federal judge.
“Gustavo Garcia in times past would have been turned over to ICE officials. Even though it was a misdemeanor charge, they placed a detainer on him. That detainer can no longer be recognized,” Boudreaux said.
“That’s how we did it in the past and that’s how we had always done it. And now, that tool has been taken from law enforcement,” Boudreaux continued. “After [the passage of] SB-54 we no longer have that power.
“That tool has been removed from our hands and because of that our county was shot up by a violent criminal that could have easily been prevented had we had the opportunity to reach out to our fellow counterparts,” he added.
Senate Bill 54, enacted in September last year by state Democrats on a party-line vote, was drafted on the premise that undocumented immigrants would feel safer going to police to report crimes and aid in investigations if they didn’t have the risk of detention, according to the Washington Post.
Boudreaux says he doesn’t disagree with all elements of California’s sanctuary policies, as he supports DACA, Dreamers and not using police to enforce immigration laws. But he said he hopes lawmakers in Sacramento “are paying very close attention that local law enforcement is very frustrated.”
“The law the way it’s written needs a couple changes,” Boudreaux said. “We need some tweaking within that law.”
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The crash killed Garcia and left four people injured, one critical. (Fox26/Tulare County Sheriff's Office)
ICE, in a statement sent to local media, said it previously deported Garcia in 2004 and 2014. He was sent to Mexico, according to Fox26.
“Garcia-Ruiz served 27 months in federal prison for re-entering the country prior to his second removal,” the ICE statement said.
“On December 14, 2018, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Garcia… however that detainer was not honored and he was released from custody later that day without any notification to ICE,” it added.
“This deadly rampage could have been prevented if ICE had been notified of his release. This is an unfortunate and extremely tragic example of how public safety is impacted with laws or policies limiting local law enforcement agencies’ ability to cooperate with ICE.”
Boudreaux said Garcia’s crime spree earlier this week was the second time an undocumented person committed serious acts of violence in his county recently, referencing the 2016 disappearance of Cecilia Bravo, believed to have been killed by her husband.
Garcia also has a lengthy criminal record that dates back to 2002, including charges for illegal firearm possession and meth, according to the Fresno Bee.
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