Police officer claims to be shot by sniper before story takes bizarre turn

Police officer Angel Reinosa made up an elaborate story that a sniper shot him in the shoulder, an incident that sent police SWAT teams hunting for the gunman, authorities said.

The rookie cop called for backup in Lancaster, northern Los Angeles, on Wednesday last week (local time), claiming he had been shot by a sniper.

“Taking shots from the north of Lancaster helipad,” he could be heard saying in the radio call, which was shared by NBC LA.

“I think I’m hit in the right shoulder. (Shots are coming) from an apartment complex to the north. I heard two shots go off. My shirt’s ripped to the right.”

“I think it’s from an apartment window … there are multiple windows open.”

Police blocked several streets and SWAT teams were called to the area where the 21-year-old claimed he was being attacked.

But when officers arrived, they couldn’t find a shooter and a wide-scale manhunt resulted in no evidence of the event that had been described.

Mr Reinosa had holes in the shoulder of his shirt so was rushed to hospital, but doctors quickly concluded there were no bullet wounds.

He earlier said he was saved by the ballistic vest he was wearing.

When others caught onto the obvious holes in his story, the deputy sheriff confessed that his story was entirely made up.

‘There was no sniper, no shots fired’

“There was no sniper, no shots fired and no gunshot injury sustained,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Captain Kent Wegener told reporters at a news conference late on Saturday. “Completely fabricated.”

Mr Reinosa did not tell investigators why he lied, but he admitted cutting a hole in his uniform using a knife, Wegener said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a statement to Twitter that he was “embarrassed and incredibly disappointed” at the deputy’s actions.

Mr Villanueva said he “dropped everything” to attend the scene, along with many other personnel who “spent needless time and energy” on a non-existent event.

“I will not tolerate any wilful misconduct by any one of our employees. Deputy Angel Reinosa’s actions violated the public’s trust,” he wrote.

The Sheriff said the behaviour would not be tolerated and Mr Reinosa has been sacked, with further prosecution pending an investigation.

Mr Reinosa’s report put the city of about 170,000 residents on high alert as heavily armed police hunted for the alleged sniper, who was believed to have opened fire from a nearby apartment complex that caters to the mentally ill.

Once the sheriff’s department has completed its investigation, the district attorney’s office could decide whether to file charges, Wegener said.

With Reuters

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