People v. Torres CA2/8

FACTS

On December 28, 2011, Deputies Victor Fernandez and Joseph Esqueda of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were patrolling in the city of Bellflower in separate vehicles when they each received a call at 4:00 p.m. regarding a “suspicious” person looking into parked vehicles on Pimenta Avenue. The suspect was described as a male Hispanic in his 20’s wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with tan shorts. Deputy Esqueda spotted someone—later identified as Torres—fitting that description standing on the front lawn of a property on Pimenta Avenue. He stopped his patrol car to investigate. When he asked Torres to approach the car, Torres grabbed his left eye and told him someone had taken his eye. Torres then fled towards Lakewood Boulevard, cutting through an adjacent parking lot. Deputy Esqueda immediately followed him in the patrol car on to Lakewood Boulevard, but lost sight of Torres when he ran down a driveway. Deputy Esqueda continued his search and eventually saw Torres standing on the porch of another home on Pimenta Avenue. Deputy Esqueda recognized Torres, even though he had taken off the gray hooded sweatshirt. Deputy Esqueda radioed for backup and Deputy Fernandez…