Off-Duty Officer Kills Suspected Car Thief
An off-duty reserve police officer shot and killed a suspected car thief who repeatedly charged at him with a screwdriver on a Canoga Park street early Tuesday, authorities said.
A man in his early 20s, whose identity has not been confirmed, was killed by Patrick Rudolf, 26, a reserve officer. Angel Torres, 21, who was with the man at the time, was arrested on suspicion of car theft. Lt. William Hall, who heads the department’s officer-involved shooting team, said the initial investigation indicates that Rudolf acted in when he fired once, striking the man in the chest.
Rudolf saw two men near a pickup truck and a Toyota Celica and became suspicious because the Toyota’s hood and fenders were missing, Hall said.
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