Officer Wounds Suspect After Southeast S.D. Car Chase

A 23-year-old man was listed in serious condition Thursday after being shot by a San Diego police officer who thought the man was reaching for a gun, authorities said.

Vincent Taylor had his hands in the air as he was being arrested on suspicion of drug activity, but suddenly dropped his hands toward his waistband, prompting Officer Al Dobynes to shoot Taylor in the left side, Lt. Phil Jarvis said. Taylor was unarmed.

Dobynes and Officer Marc Hoffman were on patrol in Southeast San Diego about 1 a.m. Thursday when they saw a car parked in an alley near 44th and T streets. There were two people inside the car and several people standing around it, police said.

When Dobynes aimed the patrol car’s searchlight at the parked car the crowd scattered and the car sped off, turning onto 43rd Street. Shortly after running a red light at National Avenue, Taylor, who was driving, slammed on the brakes and skidded onto the sidewalk at 43rd and Delta streets, police said.

A passenger in the car fled west on Delta and escaped, but police said they found Taylor hiding nearby in a bank of ivy.

Police spokesman Dave Cohen said Dobynes saw Taylor and ordered him to stand and put his hands in the air. Taylor stood facing away from Dobynes. Cohen said Taylor then abruptly dropped his hands to his waistband and turned to the left. Believing Taylor had a gun, Dobynes fired one shot from his .38-caliber revolver, hitting Taylor, Cohen said.

Jarvis said a plastic bag containing “35 to 40 rocks” of cocaine was found in Taylor’s mouth. Taylor will be heldd on suspicion of possessing drugs for sale, Jarvis said.

Taylor was previously from Los Angeles, police said, but because he used several aliases and addresses, it was not clear where he lives in San Diego.

As is customary, Dobynes has been placed on administrative duty, Jarvis said, until the investigation is complete.