Thread: CA - Suspect wanted in shooting of police officers

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_4894831

Suspect wanted in shooting of police officers
BY TOMIO GERON AND DON JERGLER, Staff Writers
LA Daily News
Article Last Updated:12/24/2006 03:50:15 AM PST

LONG BEACH -- Police sought the public's help Saturday as they searched for a "known thug" who shot two police officers during a traffic stop Friday on a bustling downtown street.
Police Chief Anthony Batts identified the suspect as Oscar Manuel Gallegos, a 36- or 37-year-old Long Beach resident with a lengthy criminal record that includes arrests for drugs, terrorist threats and assault.


Batts urged members of Gallegos' family, some of whom live in Long Beach, to cooperate with police, and had another message for the suspect at a press conference late Saturday.

"Turn yourself in because we are coming from you," Batts said. "You cannot run long enough or far enough until we catch you."

Police issued a warrant for Gallegos' arrest on charges of attempted murder of a police officer. They urged to the public to help but warned that Gallegos should be considered "armed and extremely dangerous."

Batts described Gallegos as a "known thug" and said his first arrest was in 1990 in Long Beach on a firearms violation. He was deported in 1994, he said.

"He may have been deported several times," Batts said.

The officers were identified Saturday as Roy Wade Jr., 39, who graduated from the Police Academy three weeks ago, and Abe Yap, 37, a nine-year veteran of the force, who was training Wade, police said.

The two were shot through the front windshield of their patrol car during a traffic stop at Long Beach Boulevard and Sixth Street. Officers pulled over Gallegos after he ran a red light, Batts said.

Wade sustained four gunshot wounds to his upper chest and neck area above his bullet-proof vest, Batts said. Yap was shot once in the cheek area.

"They were ambushed by a cowardly suspect," Batts said.

Both are in critical condition at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, but doing better than doctors expected, Batts said. Yap was able to write notes, he said.

Although police located the suspect's vehicle late Friday in the 200 block of Elm Avenue, Gallegos was not found during a search of an adjacent apartment complex.

Police maintained a command post near the site throughout most of the day Saturday.

The shooting erupted on a busy Friday three days before Christmas at 1:19 p.m., as residents were shopping at a nearby Wal-Mart and waiting for the Metro Blue Line at a platform on Long Beach Boulevard at Sixth Street.

I have a feeling this kind of crime is going to increase as time goes by, not only Police but American Citizens. And they say this is not an armed criminal invasion!

Dec 26, 2006 1:31 pm US/Pacific

2 Shot Officers Remain Hospitalized
(CBS) LONG BEACH, Calif. Two Long Beach police officers who were shot during a traffic stop remained in critical but stable condition Tuesday, police said.

The suspect in Friday's shooting -- once-deported felon Oscar Gabriel Gallegos, who had been living in the Long Beach area -- is wanted on suspicion of attempted murder in the shooting of officers Roy Wade, 39, and Abe Yap, 37.

The officers stopped a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder near Long Beach Boulevard and Sixth Street for running a red light at about 1:20 p.m. Friday, and the driver got out of the SUV and opened fire on them while they were still sitting in the squad car, police Chief Anthony Batts said.

Yap was shot in the face. Wade, who had just finished his police academy training three weeks ago, was shot in the chest and neck.

An officer responding to the shooting did not wait for an ambulance, but drove Wade and Yap to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where both officers underwent surgery.

Meanwhile, the gunman eluded a massive search. Police found the white Pathfinder in a parking lot under an apartment building in the 200 block of Elm Avenue.

Contrary to initial reports, the bullet missed Yap's brain and his recovery prognosis is good.

Police said Gallegos is stocky, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 220 pounds, with tattooed arms.

"Mr. Gallegos, I want to make a plea to you and be very direct," the chief said at a news conference Saturday. "Turn yourself in, because we are coming for you. We are going to track you down. You cannot run far enough or long enough until we catch you."

Batts called Gallegos a "known thug" with a rap sheet dating back to 1990, when he was arrested for a firearms violation. He has also been arrested for drug offenses, making terrorist threats and assault with a deadly weapon.

He was deported in 1994 -- apparently to Mexico -- and possibly several other times, Batts said.

Batts said Gallegos has family members in the area and warned them that they would be prosecuted if they helped the suspect elude capture.

Anyone with more information on Gallegos was asked to call police at (562) 435-6711.

Anyone interested in sending a donation to aid the officers and their families can send them to: Widows and Orphans Fund, Long Beach Police Officers Association, 2865 Temple Ave., Long Beach, CA 90755.

The Long Beach Police Department has identified OSCAR MANUEL GALLEGOS as a suspect in the shooting of two LBPD officers Thursday. The public is urged to call Detectives Bryan McMahon and Patrick O'Dowd with Homicide Detail at (562) 570-7244 with information.

CNN says this guy might be illegal as he has been deported before and they wondered how he could have gotten back into the country.
on lou dobbs tonight

gee i wonder how he got back in the country??? hmmmm

Yea, I am sure he had a hard time riding or walking across the wide open border.

"He may have been deported several times," Batts said.

What, they don't know exactly how many times he's been deported? There is something very said about this situation.

I can't even begin to tell you how mad this makes me.
It's time for all of us to elevate our own personal alert level, wherever you go keep your eyes open, teach yourself to look at people and remember what you see, watch for anything out of the ordinary and keep a pad and pen handy to write things down. Our police need our help and all the info we can give them will help.
Lets all do our part to help make our country a safer place to live.
All we need to do is learn to watch look and listen.

Ever get that feeling that the inmates are running the asylum, correction country?

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