Full Notification

DATE OF RELEASE: April 18, 2018

On April 12, 2018 at approximately 10:00 am West Covina Police Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by a male adult and occupied by a female adult passenger. The officer initially stopped the driver for driving a vehicle without license plates. At some point during the stop the officer learned the male was a convicted arsonist, on probation and previously arrested for possession of a loaded firearm. The officer chose to investigate further by conducting a probation search of the vehicle. The officer requested the female and male to exit the vehicle. The male initially complied but later became agitated. The female passenger delayed exiting the vehicle and was recording the incident with a cellular phone. For officer safety reasons, the officer asked the female to put down the phone and exit the vehicle. When she refused to comply a confrontation occurred between the female and the officer.
The officers detained both occupants in handcuffs and finished their investigation. Both occupants were not arrested and released at the scene. A written complaint has been filed with the police department, which is currently being investigated. The female passenger has since posted allegations of misconduct on social media. To the best of our knowledge, the alleged misconduct was not recorded on her cellular phone. The West Covina Police Department is releasing the dash camera footage from the police car, which is not consistent with the female’s version of events.

Furthermore, the male driver is a convicted felon with previous convictions for battery on a police officer, arson and being a convicted felon in possession of a loaded firearm.

# # # #

Information released by:
West Covina Police Department
Public Information Lieutenant Travis Tibbetts
1444 West Garvey Avenue
West Covina, CA 91790
626 939-8500

Web: www.wcpd.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/WestCovinaPD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestCovinaPD
Instagram: www.instagram.com/WestCovinaPD
Nixle: Get detailed, up-to-date emails and text messages specific to your community from the West Covina Police Department by registering at https://local.nixle.com/register/.

You can also register for alerts and text messages only by texting your zip code to 888777. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan.
Address/Location
West Covina Police Department
1444 W. Garvey Ave.
West Covina, CA 91791
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non emergency 626 939-8500