Police Defend Actions in Fatal Car Chase

Police investigators Wednesday called a high-speed chase that ended with two deaths justified because the officers were in pursuit of two suspects who had allegedly committed an armed robbery.

“The officer acted properly,” Fountain Valley police Sgt. Dann Bean said. “He was pursuing two suspects who had committed felonies. As a police officer, he has a duty to pursue any violators and take them into custody.”

Bean declined to release the officer’s name.

Ernesto Magdaleno, a light-heavyweight boxer from Westminster who is ranked fifth in the world by the World Boxing Assn., was killed New Year’s Eve when a car fleeing from police ran a red light and broadsided his Jeep.

John Kenneth Bandola, 19, of Cypress, the driver of the vehicle police were pursuing, also died at the scene. A passenger in his car was critically injured.

Some close to Magdaleno contended the police pursuit was unwarranted.

“My feelings are that they should not have chased that guy,” said Clyde Armijo, Magdaleno’s trainer. “A petty theft crime should not be pursued along a small street at high speeds.”

According to police reports, the chase began about 2 p.m. Sunday after two people tried to steal camera equipment from a customer at a gas station in the 17000 block of Brookhurst Street.

Dawn Kazamecki of Huntington Beach allegedly grabbed a bag containing camera equipment and a cellular phone, Bean said.

A police officer spotted the car near Bushard Street and Warner Avenue and pulled it over. When the officer got out of his car and began to approach the Escort, the suspects fled again, Bean said.

At the intersection of Newland and Magnolia streets, the car ran a red light and broadsided Magdaleno, Bean said.

Kazamecki, 20, remained in police custody Wednesday at UCI Medical Center in Orange, where she was listed in critical condition with major head and bodily injuries, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Charges have not been filed against her.