Rialto police fatally shoot man wielding brick

A Rialto police officer fatally shot a man charging at officers with a brick, a department spokesman said Friday.

Officers responded to a 911 cellphone call Thursday about 6:35 p.m. from the man’s sister about a disturbance involving the man, said Lt. Joe Cirolo.

The man, who had had several prior incidents with the police, claimed to have a gun and threatened to shoot someone, Cirolo said.

Officers responded to the home in the 100 block of North Palm Avenue, a short distance from the police station, and found the man standing in the front yard. They determined he had a brick in his hand.

“He was ordered to drop it and when he failed to comply, officers Tasered,” Cirolo said. “The Taser (stun gun) was ineffective."

Cirolo said the man continued charging at officers.

“As he was going to strike the officers, one officer shot twice and hit the man,” Cirolo said.

The man was pronounced dead at Arrowhead Medical Center in Colton.

As is standard practice, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the officer-involved shooting, Cirolo said.

The department has had numerous prior contacts with the man, he said.

“He had been taken in for a mental-health evaluation in the past,” he said.

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-- Richard Winton

Map shows location of Thursday's shooting in Rialto. Source: Google Maps