Lawsuit: Garden Grove Cops Lied About Lethal Force Justification in Shooting

Orange County’s Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse (Photo by R. Scott Moxley)

The parents of a 31-year-old man repeatedly shot and killed by police in a Santa Ana 7-Eleven parking lot in March 2018 are suing the City of Garden Grove and police sergeant Brian Dalton.

In a complaint filed this week in Orange County’s Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse, Ana and Luis Mora claim Dalton fired six shots through the window of a parked Toyota RAV-4, killing Erick Eduardo Mora Martinez, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.

Dalton’s shots struck Mora’s left temple, left cheek, upper and lower neck, and chest.

The 36-page wrongful death lawsuit alleges that Dalton committed numerous transgressions, including excessive force, battery, negligence and denial of timely emergency medical care.

According to the plaintiffs, an unarmed Mora obeyed commands to raise his hands and did not exhibit any real threat to the five present officers who’d boxed him in a parking space before the shooting.

But Dalton told investigators at the Orange County district attorney’s office (OCDA) that Mora “slammed his car in reverse,” struck one of his colleagues with an open car door and then revved the Toyota’s engine before he fired the shots.

In November, OCDA issued a report noting that police officers can use lethal force to defend themselves and observing “there is no evidence of criminal culpability on the part of Sergeant Dalton . . . whose actions were reasonable and justified under the circumstances.”

Dale K. Galipo, an attorney representing the parents, argued that Mora “never intentionally struck the involved officers’ vehicles or anyone else’s vehicles, with his car” and that it was Dalton’s barrage of gunfire that caused the decedent to lose control of the Toyota.

“The involved officers were not at risk of imminent or immediate death or serious bodily injury based on Mora’s actions,” stated Galipo, who also alleged that police waited to treat the wounds, conspired to concoct a false story to justify the killing and initiated “a blue code of silence” to maintain a coverup.

OCDA reported that the officers had been tracking Mora with a secretly placed GPS on the RAV-4 in hopes of catching him commit burglaries.

His rap sheet includes 13 arrests on charges ranging from vandalism, trespassing, drug possession, petty theft, burglary and assault on a peace officer, OCDA noted in the report.

An autopsy detected methamphetamines in Mora’s blood.

Attorneys for Garden Grove and Dalton have not yet filed a courthouse response.

U.S. District Court Judge Josephine L. Staton will preside over the lawsuit, which seeks $10 million in damages.

20 Replies to “Lawsuit: Garden Grove Cops Lied About Lethal Force Justification in Shooting”

  1. The cops from ggpd are piece of shits. Hopefully they get what they deserve. More people have to speak up or else things wont change. These dickheads from ggpd be beating up people inside. Same goes with the anaheim pd htting people inside. Racists white piece of shits in there treating people like crap in and out of the streets. Speak up people or no changes will be made.

    1. Agree d to the tenth power……police acting alone cannot be trusted…”

      The U.S. Declaration of Independence states that “when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government” (emphasis added).
      Right of revolution – Wikipedia
      Wikipedia › wiki › Right_of_revolution
      Feedback
      About

      The U.S. Declaration of Independence states that “when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government” (emphasis added).
      Right of revolution – Wikipedia
      Wikipedia › wiki › Right_of_revolution
      Feedback
      About this result
      PEOPLE ALSO ASK
      Do citizens have the right to overthrow the government?
      Who has the right to change the government according to the Declaration of Independence?
      What is it called when someone tries to overthrow the government?
      What type of government did the Declaration of Independence established?

      Copwatch.com
      Police watchers
      Toxiccop
      ACLU
      Amnesty international
      Human rights watch
      Nacdl
      Democracy now
      James bivard
      Glenn Greenwald
      Lights cameras action

      https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Premium-Portable-Camera-Built-/dp/B01A6W0QHS?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAJABW2JI53FPLHYFQ&tag=deqto-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01A6W0QHS

      Best dash cams in 2019
      Garmin Dash Cam 55. It It might be small, but it packs in a lot into a compact body. …
      Mio MiVue 766. …
      Nextbase Duo. …
      Thinkware TW-F770. …
      BlackVue DR650S-2CH 32G Dash Cam. …
      Z-Edge Z3. …
      TaoTronics TT-CD06. …
      Cobra CDR 840.
      More items…•Feb 1, 2019
      Best dash cam 2019: 10 car-ready cameras for peace of mind | …
      TechRadar › news › best-dash-cam
      Feedback

      One person can make a difference and we should try…

      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QbtxTh_A92s

      Que up 2:15

      Be vigilant bold cautious wise ,have witnesses cameras request copies of public records,be independent investigative report ers…

      Books
      To harrass our people

      George Hansen

      With Justice for none ,Gerry Spence

      Too
      Civil rights attorneys
      Meserou
      Dale Galipo
      Jerry Steering
      Gerry Spence
      Johnnie Cochran
      …….

      1. Yes, it does say that. Two things, first these people aren’t educated, they don’t really believe in the law, though they are working for it. They are doing their jobs, all day long mostly, that’s what they are supposed to do. It works.

        Second, we aren’t even close to absolute despotism. If you think so, you are the uneducated one. I am sorry if something extremely horrible happened. Don’t hang-out near dangerous situations. That’s all I can say.

        1. The statements made by “that’s all I can say” are worthless and despicable.

          Corrupt law enforcement are the founding fathers and our citizens worst nightmare.

          When probable cause was downgraded to reasonable suspicion it empowered street police to be cop, witness, DA, Judge, Jury AND EXCECUTIONER. Most of which are summary excecutions.

          Look at the statistics and do interviews in OC central and you’ll find the hidden agenda in plain sight.

          Law enforcement in the OC area have taken the war on drugs underground based on predudice and ignorance with a tunnel vision dogmatic fevor motivated essentially by blaming societies problems on methamphetamine.

          They twist the numbers to hide the truth. They manipulate the charges to statistically hide the targeting.
          They manipulate background checks with eviserating effect on the constitutions 5th and 14th amendments.

          They remove your right to life by punishing with intent under color of authority by creating a criminal background check that vaporizes a citizens hiring chances long before “due process” is ever attained.

          When “due process” is played out like a bad play with very bad actors on the top floor of the Superior 700 civic center drive Court building, an innocent citizen can expect to be confronted with precision coordination backed by enormous state resources that reflect just how endemic the pure corruption is while the Public Defender waltz’s with it’s partner in federal crime…The District Attorney.

          It’s close to being unravelled by the federal government who will have to face the revamping of the system by the system that covets the “blue code” like a Bible.

          Cowardly and pathetic are the ignorant enemies of the Constitution.

          These are the people Mr. “That’s all I have to say” is protecting. No doubt, one of them; who, in turn, are one of us who allow it by inaction and complacency.

          I challenge any one reading this to attempt to pull the public transcripts of any recent criminal trial.

          Good luck.
          Transparency is opaque in OC.

          Notice how the garden Grove police department doesn’t even provide a time stamp or date on the ticket you pull as you wait to file your police report? Go ahead and call the city on a Friday afternoon. Notice how the answering machine doesn’t give a clue that you’ve reached the center of the city municipalities?

          Cover up?

          More like the blue code bullet proof hardened fall out shelter where all the crimes worthy of Pol Pot are stuffed in hopes people forget why the Constitution lives.

          People are being murdered under color of athority.

          Fear God alone.
          Appeal to the highest court.

  2. Justice be served. Speak up people or no changes will be made. The ggpd are piece of shits who beat people up inside. Same goes with the racists piece of shits in the anaheim pd beating up people inside and treating people like shit in and out of the streets. I hopr ggpd and apd get what they deserve. Speak up people and file!!!!! Or nothing will change.

  3. Yes, I witnessed a wrongful death by Garden Grove Police in the past!! Apparently, they are still corrupt!! The kid was only wanted for questioning, but he took off running & the police shot him in the back & wouldn’t let paramedics near him!! He never tried to threaten or harm the police!! Too me, it was cold blooded murder & then a big cover up! The family tried to sue!! Don’t know the outcome, tho. I hope they won!!

  4. Where the picture slammed his car in reverse by Mr. Erick, where police camera? any damage at police car or any thing else why they do not post is — All police in US protect by the judge. We are the people, law enforcement services by the people to protect, police are human too, care to die, care to be kill there body just like another human be. Ask what you can do for this country, don’t ask what human can do for you?

    1. To be a police officer is the hardest job I will admit I could never do it but I know they except that badge it’s to serve and protect everyone no matter the crim, unless it’s totally out of hand deserves the justice or punishment from court every human deserves that .. should they ever shoot someone that many times. No ! And not to mention the cops had this great idea to not call for backup or let anyone know what was happening… We are tax payers paying for what rookies to act like they know what there doing they stated they pinned in mr Mora’s car then how far could he have really gone if he did try anything and they been Servalinancing him all day he did nothing wrong why the hell would u continue wasting ur time on someone who just didn’t check in with his probation officer ..

  5. Is chargers go way back you was and always will be a criminal and he had drugs in his system a close down all the streets there on Euclid Garden Grove to lampson the officers did their job and made the right choice

    1. One thing I know is the track record usually has extra shit thrown in there and it isn’t the way it seems funny how we can look up his record when he was at his best he was the sweetest man u will have ever talked to his smile lite the room kids loved him .. relapse is part of recovery .. drug addiction is a disease and is hard to over come he’s not Charles Manson lucky for him hehe was sentenced by a judge instead of someone claiming to be doing there job to serve and protect

    2. Has he ever murdered anyone no he didn’t commite any crim while under surveillance he did not deserve that

    3. I have a question if the officers were so smart and they had this master plan and they pinned him in how the hell can he slammed his car in Reverse his car to push the other cars out of his way there’s no way he could reverse that fast and it’s a Toyota RAV4 really how much engine power does that car have not a whole lot not enough to move their big vehicles and let me tell you I’ve had a run-in with the officer and you should have lied to my face about stuff she’s a liar not to mention they come running at you with their guns already out in point in your face without their badges showing really honesty there is no reason why they should be in at the undercover or policemen they do everything their own way and they don’t follow the rules at all don’t tell you who you are when they run up to you they just freaking touch you I was so scared I shut and lock my door in my car I didn’t know who was coming at me with the gun thank God it was Daylight or I would have shot in the face to

  6. What would you all do if there were no police and you had nothing to comment about? Pick another area of expertise and teach I don’t know, Doctors how to do surgery? Teach CPA’s how to understand the tax code? Teach the lifeguards how to REALLY save lives? Ah, it would be a perfect world!

  7. I have a question if the officers were so smart and they had this master plan and they pinned him in how the hell can he slammed his car in Reverse his car to push the other cars out of his way there’s no way he could reverse that fast and it’s a Toyota RAV4 really how much engine power does that car have not a whole lot not enough to move their big vehicles and let me tell you I’ve had a run-in with the officer and you should have lied to my face about stuff she’s a liar not to mention they come running at you with their guns already out in point in your face without their badges showing really honesty there is no reason why they should be in at the undercover or policemen they do everything their own way and they don’t follow the rules at all don’t tell you who you are when they run up to you they just freaking touch you I was so scared I shut and lock my door in my car I didn’t know who was coming at me with the gun thank God it was Daylight or I would have shot in the face to

  8. I know the brother of this officer . This. Officer is a lier. Corrupt. Dirty.
    How he sleeps at night I do not know. Shame on you Brian shame on you GGpd. Things are changing slowly but they are changing . Soon you will loose what lil respect u get.

Leave a Reply to Amanda Christine Hugo Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *