Officers Justified in the Fatal Shooting DA Says

San Bernardino County District Attorney officials have cleared two Colton Police officers involved in the 2010 fatal shooting of a suspected gang member of any wrong doing.

Officers Matthew Collins and Bradley Carlson say they were forced to open fire on 19-year-old David Joseph Romero, of Colton, after he nearly ran them down with a mini-van.

Investigators determined the officers responded to an immediate threat and their acts were justifiable, officials said.

The incident occurred Sept. 4, 2010. At 12:34 a.m., Carlson was patrolling the area of B and 10th streets in Colton. According to the DA’s report, he was looking for a parolee when he spotted the van and began to tail it.

The van then started to accelerate and then ran a red light at the intersection of B and La Cadena, officials said. Carlson turned on his siren and overhead lights, but officials said the van sped off forcing the officer to give chase.

Carlson called for back up as the pursuit reached speeds between 50 to 60 miles per hour. Corporal Gary Gruenzner and Officer Collins responded. The speeding mini-van forced at least one driver to veer off the road, officials said.

The chase went on for three miles until Romero pulled into the Arbor Terrace apartment complex at 2170 N. Rancho Ave. The van drove to the far end of the parking lot where it struck some steel barriers that separated the parking lot from a grassy area, according to the report.

Officials said Carlson and Collins did not report seeing a passenger flee. But Gruenzner did, spotting a man running through the apartment complex. He chased him and ordered him to stop. Officials said the man complied and was taken into custody.

The unidentified passenger said the mini-van was his, but that Romero had commandeered it after a verbal disagreement over a $15 debt. The loan was a good faith gesture but things went sour when the passenger tried to collect, officials said. The man said he was in fear of his life as Romero, feeling angry and “disrespected,” drove around aimlessly, making calls on his cell.

Then police pulled up behind them and the pursuit began, he said.

“The (passenger) asked Romero where he was going to go and Romero replied ‘the zoo,’ ” according to the report. “ 'The zoo’ is a nickname for the apartment complex located at 2170 N. Rancho Avenue.”

At the complex, Carlson pulled up behind the van, drew his weapon and both he and Collins slowly approached. Carlson, who was 6-feet away, was moving toward the driver’s side door when he saw the reverse lights come on, officials said.

The van’s tires began screeching and it barreled backward toward the officers, officials said. Collins and Carlson opened fire, officials said.

The van came to a stop on top of a patrol car. Romero was found slumped over the steering wheel. An autopsy confirmed Romero died from a gunshot to the head.

Officials said Romero had a history of aggressive and violent behavior towards officers. A small baggie with 1.92 grams of methamphetamine was found in Romero’s wallet. The passenger reportedly had small baggies with 3.87 grams of marijuana.