Pair of suspected criminals in hospital following run-ins with SVPD
Tuesday night incidents were unrelated
By Kyle Jorrey kjorrey@theacorn.com

A 33-year-old Simi resident who crashed his car into the backyard of a house while trying to evade police remained in critical condition at Simi Valley Hospital as of Thursday afternoon, after a hit from an officer's Taser gun caused him to go into what police described as "medical distress."

According to Sgt. David Livingstone, Raymundo Garcia suffered "medical distress" after he was Tasered by an officer as he allegedly resisted arrest following a slow-speed pursuit that began in the area of Fitzgerald Road and Sequoia Avenue.

The short chase, which started shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday night, concluded when Garcia drove his vehicle through the fence of a residence in the 800 block of Chelsea Court, winding up in the backyard, Livingstone said.

"He wasn't going excessively fast, but he was driving with enough disregard to crash into a fence of a home," Livingstone said.

At this point, the sergeant said, officers approached Garcia's car to make an arrest, but he refused to exit the vehicle. After he became what a police report described as "combative and aggressively resistant," one officer decided to use his Taser model X26E on Garcia to gain control of the situation.

"Apparently in the process of handcuffing him, officers noticed he was in medical distress," Livingstone said. "They probably noticed he wasn't breathing or didn't have a heart rate because officers immediately began administering CPR . . . they had to quickly go from trying to apprehend him into help mode, trying to save his life."

Paramedics soon arrived and transported Garcia to Simi Valley Hospital, where he was admitted and listed in critical condition. He was later arrested and charged with felony evading, vandalism and possession of cocaine.

According to Lt. Roy Jones, it is the first such report of a suspect being injured by the weapons since Simi Valley police began carrying the new Taser guns in the fall of last year.

"There has not been a report of someone being injured by these nonlethal weapons since we started employing the new Taser guns," Jones said.

The Taser X26E is held like a pistol and fires two dart-like probes that embed themselves in the target's skin. An instant electrical charge of 50,000 volts, sent via metal wires from the device to the body, lasts for five seconds or less depending on the control of the officer. The shock directly stimulates motor nerve and muscle tissue, causing incapacitation regardless of a person's size, stamina, training or possible druginduced dementia.

During an interview with the Acorn last year, Detective Tony Anzilotti, SVPD's defensive tactics lead trainer, said the only people who have died after being struck with a Taser were under the influence of a drug, such as crystal meth, that elevated the heart rate.

Livingstone said police suspect that drug use may have been a factor but that the department won't know until toxicology reports come back.

Second incident

Less than two hours later, at around 12:10 a.m., Simi resident Mark Weiler was traveling west on Alamo Street just west of Valencia Avenue when, according to police reports, he drove into the soft center median of Alamo Street, hit several trees and rolled his vehicle onto its side.

After the collision, Livingstone said Weiler left his vehicle and crossed the median, where he walked into the eastbound lanes of Alamo Street, stepping directly into the path of a police car driven by Senior Officer Jim Buckley, who was returning to the police station after handling an unrelated call.

"(Buckley) had no idea there had been an accident in the area because it hadn't even been reported yet," Livingstone said. "He was just driving the speed limit, returning to the station."

Weiler sustained critical injuries and was transported to Simi Valley Hospital. Buckley, a veteran of the force, was also taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Pursuant to policy, the California Highway Patrol investigated the collision and later arrested Weiler for suspicion of driving under the influence. The collision investigation is ongoing.

According to Sgt. Mike Moriarty of CHP Moorpark station, patrolmen noticed that Weiler was showing signs of intoxication and smelled of alcohol.