What Were You Thinking??

There are some stories (many, in fact) that come across the desk or spill out over the scanner that seem to effortlessly demand the immediate uttering, "What the hell were you thinking??"

Case in point:

BPD Press Release

On 9/16/09, at 9:17 a.m., Bakersfield Police officers responded to a report of a possible burglary in progress on top of the parking garage adjacent to the Stockdale Tower, 5060 California Avenue. Witnesses inside the upper floors of the Tower observed three suspects transferring property from one vehicle to another and at least one of the suspects was wearing gloves.

Officers Erik Forbus and Verion Coleman arrived first and observed the following three suspects on top of the garage:

Dennis Barton 37

Andrew Eugene Williams 24

Tara Marie Monti 20

Officer Forbus detained Williams and Monti who were in a black GMC truck but when Officer Coleman attempted to contact Barton, he drove away in a white Jeep Wrangler which was previously reported stolen. As Barton proceeded downward toward the exit, Motorcycle Officer Santiago Baltazar entered the garage and heard the radio traffic that indicated Barton was fleeing in the Jeep as well as the squealing tires from the Jeep as Barton approached him.

Officer Baltazar got off of his motorcycle and moved away from it as Barton approached. Barton did not strike the officer but narrowly missed the officer and the motorcycle as he disregarded the officer’s orders and continued to flee. As Barton passed Officer Baltazar he collided with parked cars causing the jeep to spin 180 degrees and stop. Barton then drove in reverse to get away, striking two more cars causing the Jeep to stop. Officer Baltazar approached Barton and the Jeep, ordering him to exit. Barton instead accelerated toward Officer Baltazar who fired his duty weapon at Barton multiple times and jumped out of the way to avoid being struck.

After Barton passed Officer Baltazar he struck the police motorcycle and another parked car which incapacitated the Jeep. Barton exited the Jeep but refused to obey the officer’s commands. Officer Baltazar transitioned from his firearm to his Taser and when Barton continued to ignore his orders, Officer Baltazar shot Barton with Taser darts. Only one dart struck Barton and the Taser was ineffective.

Barton ran past Officer Baltazar and out of the parking garage. Officer Baltazar pursued Barton and he and other officers were able to take Barton into custody on the center divider in the 5000 block of California Avenue.

Williams, Monti and Barton are all in custody and the investigation is continuing.

The Jeep and a Toyota Scion were taken during a residential burglary from a gated community in Seven Oaks early this morning. The investigation into that offense is continuing.

Officer Baltazar has been with the Bakersfield Police Department since January 2005. He will be placed on routine administrative leave pending the investigation and internal review.

End press release:

There you have it, taking a bad situation and making it worse. The definition of an idiot in action.