Police Reviewing Almost 50 Hours of Video on Officer-Involved Shooting Incident

A Pasadena Police Department spokesperson told Pasadena Now that it could be 30 days before the department can release video of an officer involved shooting that occurred on May 8.

Lloyd Nelson Jr. was fatally shot at 3:35 p.m. at the conclusion of a vehicle pursuit at the intersection of Corson Street and Allen Avenue. A police officer sustained a gunshot wound to the leg in that incident.

“Our intent is to try to get it out within 30 days,” said Lt. William Grisafe. “However, there is close to 50 hours of video that we have to process and prepare for release. Meaning, there’s things that we have to do to protect people’s identity and protect confidential information.”

According to state law, the police must release the video within 45 days of the shooting.

“I am particularly concerned that we make sure as a community that our police department was responding with the level of force that was appropriate for the circumstances,” said Juliana Serrano, who sits on the Police Chief’s Community Advisory Committee. “I’m really looking forward to when we can finally see the video released from the department so that we get a clear sense of what happened that day.”

Serrano and other local activists in particular point to AB392, which redefined the circumstances determining the justified use of lethal force by a peace officer.

The law encourages police officers to rely on alternative methods such as less-lethal force or de-escalation techniques.

Under AB392, a peace officer can use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that deadly force is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person, or to apprehend a fleeing felon the officer believes will cause death or serious bodily injury to another unless immediately apprehended.

“The question arises as to what de-escalation techniques were tried and failed, or if not tried, why not?” said activist Kris Ockerhauser.

Police attempted to stop Nelson after he reportedly performed an illegal U-turn on Colorado Boulevard, near Pasadena City College, and a slow speed pursuit ensued.

Although it was a slow speed pursuit, Nelson did run several stoplights and stop signs in the 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage he was driving.

Police discontinued the pursuit at one point, and a police helicopter continued to monitor Nelson.

Police reengaged Nelson to protect the public after Nelson continued to drive recklessly. After officers executed a pit maneuver and surrounded his car, Nelson began firing at officers, authorities said.

According to Grisafe, not all of the officers at the scene returned fire, but multiple officers did engage. One officer was struck by a bullet below the knee. That officer was released from Huntington Hospital last Thursday night after multiple surgeries. He was greeted by a gathering of fellow officers and supportive firefighters.

Officers are still researching Nelson’s background and have contacted his brother. According to police, the siblings had not spoken in some time.

Detectives are also working to determine where Nelson lived.

“We’re still working to determine what Mr. Nelson’s intent was and the reason this tragic situation occurred,” Grisafe said.