Lucky Cop

[cbp210]

Stumbling cop who shot suspect won't be charged

A San Mateo police officer won't be charged for shooting and wounding a suspect in August, partly because his gun went off by accident when he tripped on a curb, authorities said Wednesday.

Joseph Ortega, 24, was shot in the chest Aug. 13 by Detective Kurt Rodenspiel after Ortega slammed a Mitsubishi Eclipse into a car carrying police officers on the 1400 block of Newbridge Avenue in San Mateo.

Two carloads of officers had planned to search a home on the street in connection with another man who had bought methamphetamine from an informant. They saw the man get into the car driven by Ortega and boxed them in.

When Ortega crashed into a car with two officers inside, Rodenspiel emerged from another vehicle with the safety latch of his MP5 submachine gun off, an investigation by the San Mateo County district attorney's office found.

As Rodenspiel approached the Mitsubishi, he stumbled on a curb and the submachine gun fired. A bullet pierced the Mitsubishi's trunk and lodged into Ortega's chest. He was taken by helicopter to Stanford Medical Center, where the first words he said after his breathing tube was removed was, "F-- pigs shot me," authorities said.

District Attorney Jim Fox said his office's investigation concluded that Ortega "chose to assault" the officers "rather than submit to police authority" and that Rodenspiel would not face charges.

While calling the incident "unfortunate," the DA said, "The shooting was a result of the accidental discharge of Detective Rodenspiel's firearm when he stumbled on the curb and lost his balance."

Posted By: Henry K. Lee (Email) | October 14 2009 at 01:05 PM

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[SIXTO]

"F-- pigs shot me,"

Classic

[cbp210]

Classic

After reading this quote, I had to show it in this forum.

[Bark'n]

Don't let U.S. District Attorney Johnny Sutton get wind of this or that cop will be doing 10 years in a federal penitentiary by years end.

He has a nasty habit of prosecuting LEO's who have already been cleared by local and State authorities.

[Mardet65]

Don't let U.S. District Attorney Johnny Sutton get wind of this or that cop will be doing 10 years in a federal penitentiary by years end.

He has a nasty habit of prosecuting LEO's who have already been cleared by local and State authorities.

How else can a U.S.D.A. build a career?

[jwhite75]

I was waiting for "Don't taze me Bro" LOL

[WHEC724]

Too bad he didn't hit Ortega in the head.

[tiwee]

Wonder what Ortega expected? Hugs and kisses.

[sigmanluke]

Too bad he didn't hit Ortega in the head.

My thoughts exactly! One less scum bag on the streets through an "unfortunate" AD.

[gottabkiddin]

Too bad he didn't hit Ortega in the head.

+1 there!

[cbp210]

Wonder what Ortega expected? Hugs and kisses.

Come one this is Kalifornia

[retsupt99]

Yup, an unfortunate incident...where the BG(s) is/are still living.
OK, let's move on.

[Patti]

What's the odds in this happening:

Cop stumbles on a curb....
Has a negligent discharge....
Bullet enters trunk of car....
And lodges in BG's chest

I don't know about you guys, but I'm having a difficult time buying into this.

I couldn't care less if the cop shot the BG.

I'm wondering if this is how it really came down.

Could it be that the California cops are in fear of prosecution?

[Stevew]

Accidental discharges causing injury usually equals civil suite. California tax payers will be the losers in this one.

[archer51]

Accidental discharges causing injury usually equals civil suite. California tax payers will be the losers in this one.

They're already on the losing end, they live in Kalifornia!