FAMILY FILES CLAIM IN POLICE SHOOTING

Lawyer Says Ontario Officer Used Unreasonable Force; Department Spokesman
Says Investigation Determined Lawful Self-Defense.

ONTARIO -- The family of an Ontario man killed in a drug-influenced
confrontation with police is seeking $10 million from the city,
alleging that authorities used unreasonable deadly force when they
shot him last October.

A claim filed with the city also alleges that police did not move
quickly enough to seek medical treatment for Glen Eric Peterson, 38,
and have since tried to cover up their actions.

Peterson was killed in the 1200 block of East Flora Street after he
led officers on a car chase and later a foot chase that ended on the
roof of the house of an acquaintance. He was unarmed, but police say
he tried to take an officer's weapon. During the pursuit, police said,
they used tear gas, a Taser, pepper spray, a baton and tranquilizer
darts but were unable to subdue Peterson.

Lab tests showed that he had methamphetamines, amphetamines and
alcohol in his system, Ontario Police Det. Mike Macias said. Macias
also said he had an extensive criminal history with convictions for
assault with a deadly weapon, drug possession, arson and spousal abuse.

"We are not talking about a person who had a bad night," Macias said.
"This was a career criminal looking at three strikes and a life
sentence. You put that with drugs and paranoia, and you have an
irrational and violent individual who will do anything to escape."

Officer James Renstrom followed Peterson onto the roof and was backed
to the edge by Peterson, who reached for Renstrom's gun, police said.
Renstrom feared for his life and shot Peterson once in the chest,
police said.

"It is almost like a cowboy mentality," said Peterson family lawyer
Antonio Rodriguez of Los Angeles. "They should have waited him out and
thrown him a sandwich. There was no need to go after him, and then the
officer was afraid he would get knocked down and shot him."

Macias said the case has no merit. He said the shooting was reviewed
by the department and the San Bernardino County district attorney's
office. Renstrom followed the practices of the department, and the
district attorney called it lawful self-defense, Macias said.

"As far as any inflammatory charges, we will have to address those in
court as the case proceeds," Macias said. "Until the lawyer walks a
mile in the shoes of a police officer, he doesn't have any room to
talk."

Rodriguez said he expects the city to deny the claim, which will clear
the way for the family to file a lawsuit. He said he will request that
the U.S. Justice Department investigate the case for civil rights
violations. Peterson was Latino, but Rodriguez said his ethnicity is
not an issue.

Rodriguez said Peterson was distraught over a failing marriage and
that having drugs in his system does not justify the actions of police.