Vista, sheriff's officials to host forum on shootings

By: ANNE RILEY-KATZ - Staff Writer | Thursday, August 4, 2005 10:52 PM PDT ∞

VISTA ---- In the wake of three deadly deputy-involved shootings, officials with the city and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department are inviting the public to attend a community forum Wednesday to talk about the incidents.

"I'm sure there are people out there that have concerns and we need to address those," said Mayor Morris Vance, though he said the only phone calls he has received about the incidents so far have been from the media. "A number of investigations will take place and we need to make sure we communicate with people out there so they know what will happen."

The forum will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at Lincoln Middle School in Vista.

Family members of one of three men slain by Vista sheriff's deputies in the past week will attend the forum, an attorney for the family said Thursday.

John Parker, the executive director of the Citizens' Law Enforcement Review Board who is calling for an outside audit of the shootings, said Thursday he also would attend the forum.

Deputies shot and killed Sergio Garcia Vasquez, 32, on North Citrus Avenue on July 28 after pepper spray failed to stop him when he threw dumbbells at them and charged them, sheriff's officials said.

One week ago, a deputy in Vista shot and killed 26-year-old Jorge Ramirez, a parolee and known gang member suspected of a nearby armed robbery as he reached into his clothes while being chased by the police, officials said. Ramirez was found to have a knife in his clothing, authorities said.

On Monday evening, deputies shot and killed Jesus "Chuy" Eduardo Manzo, 23, as he allegedly fled from deputies on Newport Drive. Authorities said deputies were trying to stop Manzo, who matched the description of a car thief.

All of the victims in the shootings were Latino males in their 20s or 30s, and two of the three incidents were in the Townsite neighborhood, a high-density, low-income, predominantly Latino area near the city's center.

Sheriff's representatives said this week that race played no part in the shootings.

"These situations are reactive, and would have played out the same way regardless of the suspects' race, based on the threat to the deputies," said Vista sheriff's Capt. Rob Ahern, who will also attend Wednesday's meeting. "It's their job to assess the danger posed."

An attorney representing the Manzo family said Thursday that some family members planned to attend the forum.

"The family is very pleased about the fact that the city has taken not only the community's, but the family's request to evaluate the recent events involving the San Diego County Sheriff's Department," Daniel Hitzke said. "We believe it's a good start, but falls way short of an independent investigation."

Manzo was from Mexico, Hitzke said, and the family is planning to transfer his body to Michoacan, Mexico, over the weekend, after a private ceremony is held in Vista today.

"The family assumes that the deputy involved in (Manzo's shooting) has been offered crisis counseling, and they would hope that the county would offer the same to the family," Hitzke said.

Parker, the Citizens' Law Enforcement Review Board director, said he will attend the Vista meeting, though his call for an outside audit may not be successful.

He said Undersheriff Barry Zuniga called him Wednesday afternoon and said that the sheriff did not think an audit of the shootings was necessary.

"He did say that he was going to send the (audit) request down to Assistant Sheriff Lynne Pierce in human resources for a review," said Parker. "I don't think it bodes well for the (audit) suggestion."

Parker pointed out that an audit doesn't have to be done every year or cover specific cases. It could be an audit of shootings for designated years, he said.

"I still think that it should be done," Parker said. "There's going to be some North County politicians that will be supportive of it. We haven't heard the last of it."

Vista officials said they were uncertain what the turnout at the forum would be because they have heard little from residents about the shootings.

"This seems to be a very important topic to some people, though I haven't heard anything about it yet from community members," Vance said.

The community forum will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 in the cafeteria at Lincoln Middle School, 151 Escondido Ave in Vista. Spanish translators will be present at the meeting for residents who don't speak English.

Staff writer Jo Moreland contributed to this report.

Contact staff writer Anne Riley-Katz at 631-6622 or ariley-katz@nctimes.com.