D.A. on Dorner: ‘I don’t think he’s done’

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

This post has been corrected. See the note at the bottom for details.

As tips on Christopher Jordan Dorner’s whereabouts continued pouring into police Monday, the Riverside County district attorney filed murder and attempted murder charges against the fugitive ex-cop and offered his own chilling analysis on the manhunt.

‘Even though he may have gone underground now, given the nature of his conduct and his words and his actions, he’s going to reappear,’ Dist. Atty. Paul Zellerbach said.

“I don’t think he’s done. Just look at his manifesto, and look at his actions. He’s trying to send a message, and it would be my belief that his message is not completed yet.’’

PHOTOS: Manhunt for ex-LAPD officer

As the massive manhunt for Dorner continued to unfurl Monday, Los Angeles police said the department has received more than 700 tips in connection with the investigation. That number was up about 100 from earlier in the day.

The clues ‘spread the gamut from previous history to current issues,’ LAPD Lt. Andy Neiman said. “It’s a spectrum of information.”

Zellerbach said Dorner has been charged with one count of murder, with special circumstance allegations in the killing of a peace officer and the discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, in the death of Riverside police Officer Michael Crain. Crain, 34, was a married father who served two tours in Kuwait as a rifleman in the U.S. Marines.

TIMELINE: Manhunt for ex-LAPD officer

The special circumstances allegation makes Dorner eligible for the death penalty, but at this point, no decision has been made whether it would be a capital case when and if he’s arrested.

Dorner faces three additional counts of attempted murder of a peace officer for allegedly shooting and critically injuring Crain’s partner and firing upon two Los Angeles police officers in Corona for a protective detail. One of the LAPD officers was grazed by a bullet on the head. Zellerbach also expressed doubt that Dorner had planned to torch his pickup truck on a remote, dirt Forest Service road in Big Bear as some sort of well-crafted distraction that would allow him to slip away. Dorner’s Nissan Titan was found with a broken axle and weapons inside, authorities said.

FULL COVERAGE: Sweeping manhunt for ex-cop

“It seems unusual for him to plan to break the axle to his truck,’ Zellerbach said. He added, however, that criminals often set fire to their vehicles in order to “cover their tracks and destroy evidence.’

Both Zellerbach and Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz said there has been no credible sighting on Dorner since authorities found his pickup truck in Big Bear.

Diaz also brushed aside speculation that local police departments or federal agencies have used unmanned drones to aid the search for Dorner, saying those “rumors” are probably being spread by people with a political agenda. Diaz said he has met with all agencies involved in the search and has received no information that drones were used.

“I believe what you’ve got is, in the absence of hard information … there are a lot of rumors,’’ Diaz said. “All this other nonsense, and the credibility that some media sources have given to his grievances, is extraordinary. It’s extraordinary and ridiculous.’

[For the record, 9:10 p.m. Feb. 11: A previous version of this post incorrectly attributed the quote ‘It seems unusual for him to plan to break the axle to his truck’ to Dorner.]

ALSO:

Dorner eludes manhunt but not Internet memes

Dorner could face death penalty as criminal charges filed

Dorner manhunt: Riverside D.A. files murder charges against ex-cop

--Phil Willon, Andrew Blankstein and Matt Stevens