Riverside police recover gun of slain officer, say fingerprint found in stolen truck led to suspect

Riverside police said a fingerprint found inside a stolen truck is what led them to the arrest of the man suspected of fatally shooting an officer.

The handgun belonging to Officer Ryan P. Bonaminio, which may have been used in his slaying, was also recovered, Det. Ron Sanfilippo said at a Wednesday news conference.

Earl Ellis Green, 44, of Rubidoux was arrested by police and FBI agents outside a Target store in Riverside about 8 p.m. Tuesday and was booked on suspicion of murder and a parole violation, police said.

Bonaminio, 27, was shot and killed after pursuing the driver of a stolen semi-truck believed to have been involved in a hit-and-run collision. The officer was shot after after he chased down the driver, who had jumped out of the big rig, and fought with him in a city park, police said.

Green’s arrest came less than five hours after Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz announced at a Tuesday afternoon news conference that $390,000 in reward money had been raised for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the suspect. The department also released a seven-second video of the suspect jumping into the big rig and fleeing the scene.

Witnesses told detectives they saw the officer and truck driver in an altercation in Fairmount Park seconds before shots were fired.

Court records show that Green has been in prison before. They show a criminal record going back almost three decades, including convictions for domestic violence, battery of a police officer, selling drugs and vehicle theft. In 2007, Green was convicted of vandalism over $400 and sentenced to three years in state prison.

Riverside police officials said they were not aware of an earlier violent incident that Green was allegedly involved in on Saturday, a day before the officer’s shooting.

A relative of Green’s told a Times reporter and other news media that Green tried to attack an uncle, threatening to kill him.

The suspect’s cousin, who didn’t want to be identified, said his uncle filed a report with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department about the incident Saturday.

“He came down and chased him around with a spear, and then chased him around with his vehicle, trying to kill my uncle," he said.

-- Phil Willon in Riverside

Photo: Earl Ellis Green. Credit: Riverside County Sheriff's Department

Comments

[Unfortunate death]

To the suspect, I can only say one thing, Bye, Bye...

[Astonished]

My heartfelt condolences to the officer's family and to the Riverside Police Department for the loss of such a fine (and very young)individual. May his soul rest in peace.

[Dave]

Another career criminal out on Parole, despite a thirty year history of violence.

[Jonah Corling]

Isn't that interesting that this suspect was involved in a violent incident the day before?

I keep arguing that government needs to be more immediately responsive and react to "minor" crimes like harassment and stalking. If the complaints by relatives of this man had not fallen on deaf ears, maybe his subsequent behavior could have been avoided.

[schlock]

i hope all you three-strike cry babies can rest easy tonight. I do know of 1 police officers wife and child who won't be sleeping as well as you.

[Logic and Reason]

Sometimes I wished I was a believer, so that I knew that there was a hell for low-life degenerates like this. Oh, yeah, innocent until proven guilty and all that.

[Dave]

Life without the possibility of parole.

[August]

Another CDCR success story!

[Macca Doo]

Another animal behind bars. We need more Prisons and Electric chairs. I don't care if I have to pay 50% taxes.

[phil]

the anti death penalty advocates like Mike Ferrel will be holding a candlelight vigil for this scumbag when he is on death row. Maybe they should hold a vigil for this poor officer and his family. It might be a better use of their time.

[garyk]

I guess we will see an apology soon from those early posters who were sure that this was another crime by illegals?

[S.G.]

My prayers were answered. They found the killer of young Officer Bonaminio. Now we must wait for this to go to court and see how much justice this "cop killer" gets.

Too bad this idiot didn't do the public a favor by killing himself or "making a move" so the cops could take him out. Now taxpayers will have to pay to keep this loser in a cell for the rest of his life.

I hope the Bonaminio Family can at least rest somewhat, now that Ryan's killer is in custody.

[JCSAZ]

Officer Bonaminio spent two tours in Iraq protecting and defending the very constitution that will protect and defend this scum, preventing cruel and unusual punishment. That punishment will allow him to live out his life in the California prison system, while Bonaminio's family embraces only memories. Every facet of the trial, and every interaction with Green will be reviewed and critiqued by the same 9th Circuit that allowed this turd to be on the streets.

[Joe]

It's great that this guys got apprehended. It totally is a shame that someone who did such a great service to our nation died in such a terrible way. However, I can't shake off the bitterness from so many people commenting that a hispanic/latino committed the crime. Let's judge after we get the whole story please. I'm not defending any criminals out there but we ourselves need to learn not to be prejudice.

[Rocco]

Lethal injection would be too humane.

And what' s with the chiffon blouse?

[Alison]

Maybe if cops didn't have to worry about claims of excessive force or being tried for murder (a la Johannes Mehserle), this thug could have been shot by the cop before he was able to shoot the cop. Citizens of Oakland, take note: I don't see any white folks rioting about this murder occurring.

[Grinder]

Pretty high price to pay to get one of these idiots off the streets. Condolences to the family and friends.

[Hedwig]

THERE SHOULD BE UPDATES ON THESE CRIMINALS SEE IF WE SHOULD LOCK THEM UP BEFORE THEY CAUSE MORE SERIOUS CRIME LIKE THIS ONE. MY CONDOLENCES TO THE OFFICER AND HIS FAMILY.

[HF_Buick]

@ Rocco : i believe it's one of those prison issue suits for people that pose a threat to themselves...it's kinda like a tyvec material where it's not really rippable. I think you can see the hood that is supposed to cover his face-- that's a spit guard.

just to clarify-- as much as all of us are wondering why this loser wasn't arrested earlier for domestic violence, Riverside City has its own PD-- and while calls might be received by a similar call center for 911, they are not routed to RVSD PD if it's not their jurisdiction. Rubidoux, where the altercation likely took place, its patrolled by Sheriffs, as noted above. Those 2 depts are not connected and even if a report was filed, it was filed in a separate agency.

[DavidArizona]

When career criminals are kept in prison without parole you and I are safer. Let us eliminate the 3 strikes law and make it the 2 strikes law.

[Astonished]

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting to see this guy die for his crimes. He'll probably retain some dipwad lawyer who'll argue that the police officer was wrong for chasing him and scaring this wast-of-breath, thereby creating a diminshed capacity plea that he was instantly struck stupid and didn't realize he was shooting to kill.

[Disgusted]

This is where we need Steve Cooley...he would enforce the death penality! Unlike..ummm what's her name.

My heartfelt sympathy to the officer's family and I pray that justice will be served quickly and this piece of human trash gets taken to the dump and disposed of once and for all.

[Angry]

Savage....

[Ians Michael]

I guess this was no surprise the criminal would be black!