UPDATE: Julian “Jules” Stanley Collender's Family and Friends Loudly Protest His Slaying by Police
It's been 2 1/2 months since the life of Julian “Jules” Stanley Collender was cut short by a single police gunshot, but the Yorba Linda 25-year-old's family and friends have maintained their pressure on a local police chief and other officials.
Tonight, they will make a public spectacle out of their quest for “Justice for Julian.”
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They will gather at Yorba Linda Boulevard and Imperial Highway at 5 p.m. and march together to Yorba Linda City Hall an hour later, in time for the City Council meeting.
“I spoke at the last council meeting [on Sept. 7], and the council has not responded to any of my questions or concerns,” says Michele Collender, the 28-year-old sister of Julian Collender. “In fact, they haven't make one public statement regarding the shooting.”
You can watch the previous appearance by the recent UC Hastings School of Law graduate here, around the 25:00 mark when public comments are heard. Michele Collender demands the release of information concerning the shooting that
she claims the Brea Police Department, which patrols Yorba Linda, is
withholding. She also wants the cop agency to explain how residents are
supposed to feel safe with the officer who shot her brother back on
duty, stronger regulations on the types of weapons Brea cops can bring
into Yorba Linda and a reconsideration of Yorba Linda's police services contract.
At 12:25 a.m. on June 30, police killed Julian Collender with a high
power assault rifle in front of his the Yorba Linda home he shared with
his parents. He was unarmed and had no prior record, although he was a
suspect in an armed robbery four hours before in the Mercado Del Rio shopping center parking lot.
The family believes a false report was filed to finger Julian in the
initial robbery. According to an account of the shooting on JusticeForJulian.com,
which no doubt differs from the official police report, “Less than 50
minutes after the report was made Julian arrived home and at least two
marked cars and one unmarked car were already waiting outside the
Collenders' house with at least one high power assault rifle. Julian was
pulled over by one of the marked cars in front of his house. He was
unarmed and alone. There were multiple police officers shouting
different orders at him. He was shot with a high power assault rifle
within a few seconds of exiting his vehicle.”
They say the
assault rifle was “a war weapon,” that Collender “sprung backwards from
the impact, paralyzed, his body going into shock.” And yet, he was
handcuffed while lying in the street, dying.
“Within minutes,
Julian's mother opened the front door of her home to find SWAT pointing
rifles at her,” the website further alleges. “She walked outside
barefoot in her knee-length nightgown and bathrobe to be faced with
multiple officers and SWAT shining lights and guns at her. Multiple
commands were given to her from different directions. The police slammed
her against the hood of a police car, searched her, handcuffed her
wrists behind her back, and put her in the back of the police car. She
had bruises from the handcuffs the size of golf balls. The same happened
to Julian's father, who was barefoot and shirtless. For hours they were
held in the back of separate police cars.”
The parents were
later called over to officers and told “in an abrupt manner completely
lacking of compassion, 'Your son is at Kaiser and he's dead.'” They were
denied entry back into their home, shoes to wear to the hospital or
even a ride. Getting a ride from a neighbor to the same Kaiser hospital where Julian Collender was born, the car the parents were riding in was stopped and they were briefly detained, according to JusticeForJulian.com.
Once the elder Collenders finally arrived at the hospital, they were forced to stand 20 feet
away from their boy's body and stay in the same room with him for 20
seconds–after being threatened with violence from officers if they
broke those commands, the website alleges.
Police have told the family they have
evidence that links Collender to the armed robbery. The family does not
believe it, has been denied the police report and does not know the name
of the officer who killed the young man.
“I know that the events of that night played out because of very poor, even criminal police work,” Michele Collender tells the Weekly. “I am worried that the Brea Police have falsified information and provided false information to the DA regarding what happened the night of Julian's shooting.”
The Orange County District Attorney's Office is
investigating the shooting, as it does all officer-involved incidents, and Michele Collender has called for a thorough and unbiased investigation by Tony Rackauckas' office.
“I know I can't count on the DA's office to properly investigate that information with a critical eye,” she said. “I just don't want this to get swept under the rug, and find it incredibly important that the public is aware of this department's misconduct and they are held accountable.”
People can sign a petition on JusticeForJulian.com demanding a fair probe from a DA's office that has never pressed charges against an officer shooter. Meanwhile, Michele Collender, her father and others seeking justice have bombarded the Facebook page of Brea Police Chief Billy L. Hutchinson in a quest for answers. It has led to some extraordinary exchanges, such as one that began Aug. 31 and continued into the middle of this month.
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Billy L. Hutchinson, Brea Chief of Police: “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear–not absence of fear.”—Mark Twain
Maria Charleton: What facts are left to be made available except for your cover up? Julian Collender was shot and killed unarmed with a military assault rifle by you or one of your officers. What factual account can ever give your department the right to kill another human being without regard of their human and constitutional rights? Was your officer threatened with a belt so he responded with an assault rifle designed only to kill? You have a lot
of nerve with the quotes you post. You believe in none of them if your actions thus far is any indication of your ethical and moral code.Billy L. Hutchinson, Brea Chief of Police: Ms. Charleton, this incident is a tragedy for all concerned. The District Attorneys Office, which represents the people of Orange County, is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting. The evidence will speak for itself and if there is culpability assigned to our officer or department, then so be it. I appreciate your comments and urge you to be open to different perspectives.
Michele Collender: “”Then so be it” How can the people of YL and Brea feel safe when the officer-shooter is back on duty? It is reckless and irresponsible for you to put a killer back on duty–after a three day leave (VACATION), with a gun, a high power rifle, back in his hand without FIRST being exonerated for any wrongdoing. Where is your internal investigation? Don't you have a responsibility to inspect the evidence and come to a determination internally, Chief? To put this all off on the DA's investigation is even more irresponsible–as a public servant YOU should demand accountability for your OWN officer's violations. The public has a right to know NOW. There is no good reason for you to withhold information. You CAN release information, you CAN provide answers, instead you are CHOOSING not to at the expense of the safety of the people of YL and with no human regard to Julian's family.
Leslie Ozenbaugh: I am still awaiting the police chief's response. I guess it doesn't matter to this police chief? After clicking on the gun display picture, now I am deathly concerned for our lives. I really, really am. Wow, this is bad. 🙁
Billy L. Hutchinson, Brea Chief of Police: Ms. Ozenbaugh, it does matter. It's why I responded to postings last night from my home. You live in a safe and well planned community. I have been part of this community for nearly 30 years and can tell you that the people that I come into contact with feel safe. I chose to raise my family here for several reasons. It is safe, well planned, and well managed. There are beautiful parks, award winning schools, well paved and maintained streets, low crime, a low fear of crime, and ample amenities for all. Nevertheless, none of us
should be blind to the fact that crime does happen…no city is immune. I wish it were different. As for the photos above, this was part of our National Night Out effort in Brea. I apologize if you find the display offensiveLeslie Ozenbaugh: Mr. Hutchinson, all of those beautiful qualities do not matter if there is no preservation of life! I USED to feel safe in Yorba Linda until Julian Collender was killed. As for those machine guns, putting those on display for the children is setting the example that violence is the Brea Police Dept.'s answer to public service because they are consciously and subconsciously associating those machine guns with the Brea Police Dept.'s answer to public service because they are consciously and subconsciously
Billy L. Hutchinson, Brea Chief of Police: Ms. Ozenbaugh, I appreciate your comments and you seem like a reasonable person. I have dedicated 30 years of my life to the preservation of
public safety in our communities, raised my family here, coached
youth sports here, and have given back in countless ways over the last 3
decades. I have no motive to do anything other than to do my best to
provide for order maintenance and a peaceful existence to each of our
over 100,000 residents in our cities. I will ask you, as I have
asked others, to be open to another perspective in this matter. We owe
it to each other to hear from all of the stakeholders prior to
condemning anyone.Billy L. Hutchinson, Brea Chief of Police: Ms. Ozenbaugh, since I took this job in 2008, I am fully aware of my responsibility to be
accountable for the actions of our officers. Nothing has changed
since then and this case is no different. I balance that with my
responsibility to EACH of the 100,000 residents in Brea and Yorba
Linda. You earlier posting seems to indicate you have already made the
decision not to trust me as your police chief, and for that I am
sorry. I assure you that our officers are among the best trained, educated, and highly competent in the region. This is a tragic incident no one wishes had happened.Leslie Ozenbaugh: Mr. Hutchinson, actually my earlier posting
delineates specifically that I felt safe BEFORE Julian Collender was
killed and now I do not feel safe knowing that you returned the
police officer who killed him back onto the streets of Brea and/or
Yorba Linda BEFORE investigations have been completed. I have
never heard of a police department or Police Chief who reinstates
an officer immediately after an officer involved shooting,
especially when a civilian is killed. Usually, the officer is on paid
leave pending investigations. Mr. Hutchinson, based upon your
responses you seem to take death rather lightly for someone in
charge of preserving life. It is your decision to return that officer
immediately back onto the streets that has me concerned. Also,
your flat affect is disheartening. I have not under any circumstance used any”absolute” terms like
“already made the decision not to trust”. Those are inferences you
have drawn. Mr. Hutchinson, you speak of “this tragic incident” as
though it were happenstance when in fact, we are talking about
real people here and one of them (Julian Collender) is not here to
defend himself. “This is a tragic incident no one wishes had
happened” is an extremely detached statement to make.
Regarding “I will ask you as I have asked others to be open to
another perspective in this matter.” I am not quite sure what
“perspective” you are referring to but I have spent many a
sleepless night knowing that the shooting officer had myriad
weapons and tactics to utilize other than a high power assault
rifle. I don't need to list them do I? And “I assure you that our
officers are among the best trained, educated, and highly
competent in the region” does not reassure my safety and that of
my family knowing that your officer is back on duty so soon after
this killing! I'm not talking about all the prepare to qualify at the
range activities and scores. Don't you think it was too soon to
return the officer to the field? I mean we are talking about a
man's life here that ended far too soon and under questionable
circumstances to say the least Mr. Hutchinson.
For instance, I know that you do not deal with even a fourth of
the crime that let's say the Santa Ana Police Chief deals with.
Those officers get paid leave until investigations are complete
and usually return to desk duty for a short time but they certainly
are not put back on the field after 72 hours! So, by all means,
please clarify.Louis Filliger: You and your department are hiding behind
loopholes and rhetoric. The family has been treated in the most
barbaric manner through this whole situation. Can you respond to
that? As long as I live in Yorba Linda I will never feel safe again. I
know many people that feel the same. This quotation leads me to
believe that you have philsophical and idealistic inclinations.
People are looking to you to right the wrongs that occured on
June 30th. Please look deeply into your conscience and take the
necessary steps to right all the wrongs your police department
has already committed so far.Tamus Sixtwonine: How can you quote about courage, when your
officer was armed with a military rifle (accurate to 200 yards) on a
residential street (maybe 50 ft wide)? Courage is knocking on a
door and speaking to the suspect or the parents. Courage is face
to face. Courage is what your officers took from Julian and his
family.Billy L. Hutchinson, Brea Chief of Police: Mr. Filliger, depending
on the findings of our investigation of the incident, please rest
assured that appropriate action will occur. I cannot “right”
anything unless and until the facts indicate so. I wish you would
consider waiting until all the facts are revealed prior to passing
judgement.Louis Filliger :Maybe the next time one of your officers murders
someone you could put them on leave until the matter was
resolved instead of having them back in the streets scaring the
crap out of the rest of the city. I could “wish' all I want but until I
hear something from your department that makes sense I will
pass judgement. I have to pass judgement or end up a victim.
Like I said before. Please account for your officers treatment of
Julian's parents the night of June 30th 2010. Thank youBilly L. Hutchinson, Brea Chief of Police: Ms. Ozenbaugh, the
flat affect or any other lack of emotive response is always a
challenge in this communication arena. I value human life as
much as anyone…I have a family, friends, loved ones just like any
one else. I have grieved the loss of loved ones just like any other
man.
The other perspective I am referring to is allowing for this tragic
case to be put into context via a chronology of events that will be
shared when possible. I would be willing to meet with you in
person if you would like. Clearly this forum is not conducive to
true interpersonal communication.Michele Collender: Stop with this “perspective” bit, it's old and
nobody's buying it. Do you even understand what you are asking
people to do? Julian was killed and you want people to hear your
position on it, your take on it, how you perceive what happened?
Perspectives are subjective. I don't want your take on it. I don't
give a **** about your perspective. Throw your perspective out
the window, how about some facts:
-You or one of your officers killed Julian with a high power rifle
-He was shot outside of his childhood home at 12:25am by one
of at least five of your police who were waiting outside of his
house
-Julian did not exit the house and confront officers as you say
-Julian was unarmed
-Julian was accused of being involved with a crime by at least one
person who knew him only 50 minutes before he was shot, whose
names you still haven't released
-your officers treated my parents with no dignity and no respect
after killing their youngest son
There is no “chronology of events” that will justify you or one of
your officers KILLING an unarmed 25 year old with a high power
assault rifle in Yorba Linda or treating his parents in the way that
you did. I think I'm done trying to talk with you, your attitude is
now clear to everybody who sees this.
You're so full of deceit it's scary. I wonder exactly what you told
the DA, I am sure it was very far from the truth.
And, of course you want to meet in the person, so people don't
see what's really going on here. You cherry-pick the questions
you respond to, your responses lack substance, and you continue
to hide comments up at the top of the page. It's not the forum
that is not conducive, it's you.
Finally, that's very bold of you try to take credit for the low crime
rate in YL. The city takes care of itself crime-wise. In fact,
according to your own crime statistics, the ONLY HOMICIDE that
has occurred in YL this year to date was committed by YOUR
DEPARTMENT.
By the way, I've been pretty lucky, I've never grieved the loss of a
loved one until you guys killed my brother. Look at what you and
your “blue knights” have done to my brother and my family. You
don't know grief.Leslie Ozenbaugh: After what I read on Justice for Julian.com, I
am hereby declaring that I take an official stance on the side of
Julian's family. To say the least, I am more than revolted by the
dehumanization of Julian's parents and the utter and blatantly
flagrant mistreatment and abusive tactics implemented upon Mr.
and Mrs. Collender. That compounded with Julian's murder and
the unempathic response by the Brea Police and its Chief I am not
willing to meet with Hutchinson:
A) Because I know enough about Police and their ability to
manipulate the media to make it appear that “Leslie Ozenbaugh
has met with us and agrees.” (No, I do not agree, not now, not
ever.)
B) Because Hutchinson will “use me” as a statistic to maintain his
public appearance that he implements an “open door policy with
the community”.
C) I attended the University of California at Berkeley and
graduated; thus, I have been well equipped to consider all
perspectives and have a degree and lots of writings to confirm
critical thinking and the use thereof.
D) I do not need the “Chief” of the Brea Police Dept. to affirm my
ability to consider all perspectives.
E) The Chicano Studies Major at UCB is not so much the study of
the Chicano Culture, rather it is the study of America's
infrastructure in the hierarchical powers that pertain to global
capitalist economy, American Paramilitary Policing within the
Nation-State, and the injustices within American Power Structure.
F) That coupled with countless personal interviews for factual
information from police officers throughout the state of California
has given me direct information into the education, perspective
and codes of police officers and their duties and implementations.
All of that combined with other facts has given me the ability to
declare my position on behalf of Julian, Mr. and Mrs. Collender
and their friends and family.Leslie Ozenbaugh: I am not the one you need to meet with Chief
Hutchinson. On behalf of one Rigo Jones, the “meeting in person”
invitation should be extended to Mr. and Mrs. Collender and their
children so that you can at the very least apologize profusely for
the reprehensible way your department mistreated them and for
the woeful murder of their beloved son Julian Collender.Leslie Ozenbaugh: I am not saying I know it all, but I am saying I
know enough.Billy L. Hutchinson, Brea Chief of Police: Thank you for your
dialogue.
OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.