Policeman’s Slaying of Narcotics Suspect Is Ruled ‘Excusable’

The slaying of a drug suspect who was shot in the back of the head by a police officer after a foot chase earlier this year has been ruled an “excusable homicide” by the district attorney’s office.

A report released Thursday said: “There is absolutely no evidence that Douglas’ unfortunate death was other than the result of sheer accident.”

Police have said all along that Johnny O. Douglas, 29, of San Diego was shot accidentally March 6 by Officer Steven Hutchinson at the culmination of a chase down a dark alley. He was shot once as the undercover officer was attempting to force him to the ground.

Hospital Showdown

The death sparked an angry confrontation that night between police and some of the victim’s relatives and friends at UC San Diego Medical Center. Four officers were injured, and two people were arrested.

But the district attorney’s report defended Hutchinson and a second officer for drawing their guns while chasing Douglas.

“It was dusk and the officers were unaware of what perils might await them as they ran after him,” the district attorney said.

“If Douglas had been armed, once the officers knew that for a fact, it would have been much too late to only then pull their own weapons. The question posed is almost rhetorical. The officers would have been foolhardy not to have had their weapons drawn.”

The report, addressed to Police Chief Bill Kolender, was dated May 10. Police spokesman Bill Robinson, who said his supervisors gave him copies of the report Thursday, did not know why there was a delay in the release.

The report gave this account of the shooting:

Undercover officers successfully conducted a $20 purchase of illegal drugs from Douglas and a middleman, identified as Samuel Leachman; both were standing at 30th Street and Imperial Avenue.

Once the buy was completed, the police radioed to backup officers and provided a detailed description of Douglas and Leachman. Uniformed officers stopped Leachman and arrested him.

Was Focused on Arrest

“Douglas had his attention focused on the arrest of Leachman,” the report said, “and was slowly backing away down the sidewalk.”

Hutchinson and Officer Vincent Krolikowski, both in plainclothes, jumped from an unmarked police car, identified themselves as police officers and ordered Douglas to stop.

“Douglas made eye contact with them and immediately turned and ran.” The officers chased him around a building and into a narrow passageway, where Hutchinson began to gain on Douglas.

“With his revolver in his right hand, Officer Hutchinson grabbed hold of Douglas’ jacket collar from behind with his left hand.

“Douglas was still moving forward, though having slowed somewhat. . . . Officer Hutchinson ordered Douglas to go to the ground but encountered resistance. Using his body weight and grasp of the jacket collar, Officer Hutchinson attempted to force Douglas to the ground.

Unexpected Movement

“Suddenly and unexpectedly, Douglas jerked backward, causing Officer Hutchinson to unintentionally fire his weapon. Douglas fell to the ground, with Officer Hutchinson atop him.

“Realizing that Douglas had been shot in the back of the head accidentally, Officer Hutchinson applied pressure in an effort to staunch the bleeding, and Officer Krolikowski immediately radioed the fact of the shooting and a request for an ambulance. Douglas was declared dead on arrival at UCSD Medical Center.”

The district attorney said coroner’s reports and powder residue examinations showed that the bullet passed through Douglas jacket collar, then entered near the base of his skull in an upward direction.

Leachman has since pleaded guilty to selling cocaine. The district attorney said Leachman pointed out Douglas as the man who provided the drug in the undercover purchase, identifying him by his street name of “Poochie.”

The district attorney also said Leachman knew Douglas to be a gang member who regularly hung out at 30th and Imperial, which police call one of the most crime-ridden intersections in the city.

Douglas had an adult criminal history spanning 11 years. At the time of his death, he was on parole for possession of a sawed-off shotgun and had most recently been released from prison last August.

The $20 bill passed in the drug buy was found under Douglas’ body, the district attorney said.