I really believe that the meltdown that led to Ernesto Castaneda’s death was probably an anniversarial reaction to something. In March 2008 he evaded officers while drunk and earned a conviction in El Monte Superior Court.

This March (Sunday to be exact) he went on a bender and attacked deputies with a machete and a baseball bat before they shot him to death.  Jennifer McLain’s story from today’s newspaper leads me to believe that Castaneda’s depression and the ides of March are somehow linked. Here’s portions of her story:

ROSEMEAD – The young man who was shot and killed by deputies Sunday after brandishing a machete struggled with depression since the death of his mother, neighbors said.

Ernesto Castaneda, 22, died at a nearby hospital on Sunday after deputies shot him. Castaneda’s father called the police on his son around 11 a.m. on Sunday because Castaneda was “high” and armed with a machete, according to sheriff’s deputies.

<snip> 

“He was a good boy,” said neighbor Lorraine O’Neill, who has known Castaneda since he was a child. “He just got depressed after his mom died three years ago and he’s been struggling since then.”

Last March, Castaneda was convicted of evading arrest and being under the influence of alcohol or drugs in a vehicle.

I also think it’s interesting to compare how the sheriff’s department has handled the case to Pasadena’s handling of the Leroy Barnes shooting.  

Continue reading “Rosemead man who attacked deputies was depressed” »

Barney Melekian is hosting police* chiefs from around the state for an annual training symposium beginning Tuesday at the newly reopened Pasadena Convention Center:

Here’s a link to the schedule.

On Thursday, Melekian hosts a workshop: “Police Chief as City Manager”

At least he’s not giving lessons in how to handle the press at an officer involved shooting.

The Pasadena Police Department has told the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner to withhold investigative and autopsy information in the Leroy Barnes shooting for “security reasons.” Apparently there’s a real need for something to remain secret in the case..

This from Coroner’s Chief Ed Winter:

“The law enforcement agency asked for more time to do further investigation in the case.

We’re not allowed to release any information until the hold is released. Most of the time it’s for follow up on more information. They are probably still seeking witnesses and this so (anyone interested) isn’t alerted to the facts by reading the newspaper.”

The hold could last for as long as 90 days, Winter said.

“After 90 days we send them a note and make a call, ‘It’s been 90 days, what the heck? At that point they are going to have to justify why or what’s taking so long to finish up this investigation,” Winter added.

Police Link, a blog that serves as a round-up of law enforcement news from around the country has some interesting comments posted regarding last Thursday’s OIS in Pasadena.

Leroy Barnes, Jr. a 37-year-old parolee with a history of run-ins with the law, was shot and killed by officers after a traffic stop. Here’s a link and the photo caption:

Pasadena Police handed out this photograph of the carried by Leroy Barnes. (Photo: Pasadena Police)

Police Chief Barney Melekian is now softening the official version of events that led to the death of 38-year-old Leroy Barnes in Northwest Pasadena.

While police originally claimed Barnes got out of his car and began firing at officers, Melekian now says that Barnes was shot while in the car after a struggle with officers. He would not back up his earlier claim that Barnes shot at officers saying only that his original statement came at a time when the incident was still under investigation.

Interesting that Melekian consults the Sheriff’s Department. Perhaps he should take some lessons from Sheriff’s Homicide officials who are very careful about what they release in the early minutes following a shooting….

There’s more to report as well…

Photographer Keith Birmingham says tensions in the neighborhood are high. He witnessed several men carrying firearms in the open. Several people in the community have advised our reporters to stay away until tension subsides….

Leroy Barnes, the man shot and killed after apparently firing on Pasadena police officers had been in a shootout with Pasadena police in the early 1990s, according to authorities.

Barnes apparently had a long criminal history that includes convictions for tresspassing, spousal battery and assaulting an officer. A story is coming and we’ll continue to flesh out the details of the shooting throughout the day.

*UPDATE from Nate McIntire: