I just read this in the paper sounds real fucked up
Man in road rage chase feared for his life
By ROBERT L. JAMIESON Jr.
P-I COLUMNIST
Jesse James Toro II is 28, married and has a young daughter. He makes a living designing medallions and other jewelry for musicians.
· Nickels, chief agree changes may be needed
· Police guild claims a breach of procedure on access to records
He is non-violent, church-going and evenkeeled, according to his family, and he's not the type to aim a gun at police.
But that is what Seattle police say the Edmonds man did last week -- pointed a loaded gun at three undercover officers in the vice unit who were on duty and in an unmarked vehicle.
Toro's action, the police department says, touched off a high-speed pursuit. It also prompted an exchange of gunfire between officers and Toro, who mistook the cops for gangbangers or thugs.
Even if the undercover officers were in uniform and riding in a cruiser with flashing lights, the big question in my mind is why would they fuel a dangerous chase? Why not just jot down Toro's license plate then follow up? Or wait for a police cruiser -- not an unmarked car -- to pull him over to avoid confusion?
But given recent headlines about Seattle police and their truth issues, these procedural questions now take a back seat.
Instead, the question is: Can the cops' account in this case of jousting stories even be believed?
Toro's family says that someone in the undercover police vehicle flashed a gun first -- and pulled the trigger.
Toro then sped off, and later on fired his gun -- but in self-defense, they said.
He told his family about last week's moments of terror, and his sister shared the account with me.
After 11:30 p.m. last Thursday, Toro left 24 Hour Fitness downtown. He got behind the wheel of his white Cadillac STS and pulled into traffic, cutting off a blue Ford Edge, which then rode his bumper to Westlake.
Toro became concerned. And when the Cadillac and Ford wound up side-to-side, Toro rolled down his window and asked the occupants of the other car if they had a problem. Threats were volleyed between the cars.
Toro alleges the driver of the other car reached down and showed a gun. But police claim Toro reached for a weapon first, causing an officer to draw his Glock and fire.
Whichever is true, Toro raced away, hearing multiple gunshots fired from the officers' car. He said his car was hit more than once; his family says they have photos showing the bullet holes. But the cops insist they shot just once -- and missed.
The two vehicles tore down Denny Way, then headed north onto Aurora Avenue. Toro reached speeds over 100 mph. The Ford, a mini sport utility vehicle, struggled to keep up.
Moments later, Toro, who has a concealed weapons permit, took aim and shot out the tires of the officers' car.
"He was afraid for his life," said Toro's sister, Maria, who recounted the story her brother also has shared with a Seattle attorney.
Toro lost the cops in North Seattle, but hours later, police contacted him and his family. That's when he learned the people in the other car were cops, not gangsters.
Toro turned himself in Friday, was booked and then released on personal recognizance. On Wednesday afternoon, he was slammed with a charge of second-degree assault, a felony, and taken into custody as his family looked on in tears inside a courtroom.
In court documents, the officers paint Toro as the bad guy. They say he swore and flipped them off.
"(Toro) pointed the weapon at the officers," police spokeswoman Renee Witt said. "He aggressed them. Obviously, these officers had a duty to do something."
Obviously?
The officers' car had no lights or sirens and Toro said they never identified themselves. Police Capt. Neil Low tells me the officers just didn't have time. And while police are trained to de-escalate situations, here it seems their actions ramped up road rage.
And then there's yet another department discrepancy -- this time about the number of shots fired at Toro's Cadillac.
His car hasn't been impounded and Low said Wednesday that the department wants to take a look. Officers, he said, can be "wrong about the number of shots fired" during a fast-paced event because of adrenalin and tunnel vision.
"But we have the officer's gun, so we can check," Low added.
The story will play out in court. For now, it's the word of Jesse James Toro II versus the Seattle Police, whose badges can't seem to keep their shine of late.
I'm siding with the jeweler who feared for his life.
P-I columnist Robert L. Jamieson Jr. can be reached at 206-448-8125 or [email protected].
Man in road rage chase feared for his life
P-I COLUMNIST
Jesse James Toro II is 28, married and has a young daughter. He makes a living designing medallions and other jewelry for musicians.
· Nickels, chief agree changes may be needed
· Police guild claims a breach of procedure on access to records
He is non-violent, church-going and evenkeeled, according to his family, and he's not the type to aim a gun at police.
But that is what Seattle police say the Edmonds man did last week -- pointed a loaded gun at three undercover officers in the vice unit who were on duty and in an unmarked vehicle.
Toro's action, the police department says, touched off a high-speed pursuit. It also prompted an exchange of gunfire between officers and Toro, who mistook the cops for gangbangers or thugs.
Even if the undercover officers were in uniform and riding in a cruiser with flashing lights, the big question in my mind is why would they fuel a dangerous chase? Why not just jot down Toro's license plate then follow up? Or wait for a police cruiser -- not an unmarked car -- to pull him over to avoid confusion?
But given recent headlines about Seattle police and their truth issues, these procedural questions now take a back seat.
Instead, the question is: Can the cops' account in this case of jousting stories even be believed?
Toro's family says that someone in the undercover police vehicle flashed a gun first -- and pulled the trigger.
Toro then sped off, and later on fired his gun -- but in self-defense, they said.
He told his family about last week's moments of terror, and his sister shared the account with me.
After 11:30 p.m. last Thursday, Toro left 24 Hour Fitness downtown. He got behind the wheel of his white Cadillac STS and pulled into traffic, cutting off a blue Ford Edge, which then rode his bumper to Westlake.
Toro became concerned. And when the Cadillac and Ford wound up side-to-side, Toro rolled down his window and asked the occupants of the other car if they had a problem. Threats were volleyed between the cars.
Toro alleges the driver of the other car reached down and showed a gun. But police claim Toro reached for a weapon first, causing an officer to draw his Glock and fire.
Whichever is true, Toro raced away, hearing multiple gunshots fired from the officers' car. He said his car was hit more than once; his family says they have photos showing the bullet holes. But the cops insist they shot just once -- and missed.
The two vehicles tore down Denny Way, then headed north onto Aurora Avenue. Toro reached speeds over 100 mph. The Ford, a mini sport utility vehicle, struggled to keep up.
Moments later, Toro, who has a concealed weapons permit, took aim and shot out the tires of the officers' car.
"He was afraid for his life," said Toro's sister, Maria, who recounted the story her brother also has shared with a Seattle attorney.
Toro lost the cops in North Seattle, but hours later, police contacted him and his family. That's when he learned the people in the other car were cops, not gangsters.
Toro turned himself in Friday, was booked and then released on personal recognizance. On Wednesday afternoon, he was slammed with a charge of second-degree assault, a felony, and taken into custody as his family looked on in tears inside a courtroom.
In court documents, the officers paint Toro as the bad guy. They say he swore and flipped them off.
"(Toro) pointed the weapon at the officers," police spokeswoman Renee Witt said. "He aggressed them. Obviously, these officers had a duty to do something."
Obviously?
The officers' car had no lights or sirens and Toro said they never identified themselves. Police Capt. Neil Low tells me the officers just didn't have time. And while police are trained to de-escalate situations, here it seems their actions ramped up road rage.
And then there's yet another department discrepancy -- this time about the number of shots fired at Toro's Cadillac.
His car hasn't been impounded and Low said Wednesday that the department wants to take a look. Officers, he said, can be "wrong about the number of shots fired" during a fast-paced event because of adrenalin and tunnel vision.
"But we have the officer's gun, so we can check," Low added.
The story will play out in court. For now, it's the word of Jesse James Toro II versus the Seattle Police, whose badges can't seem to keep their shine of late.
I'm siding with the jeweler who feared for his life.
P-I columnist Robert L. Jamieson Jr. can be reached at 206-448-8125 or [email protected].
