Dallas Fails to Indict Police Officer who Fatally Shot Unarmed Latino Teenager

• Investigation criticized

A grand jury declined to indict a Dallas police lieutenant Wednesday who fatally shot an unarmed teenage car-burglary suspect in March while working an off-duty security job. Lt. John Dagen, a 28-year department veteran, told investigators that he thought a passenger inside the car driven by Orlando Aranda, 18, was reaching for a gun when he fired his weapon. Steve Sanderfer, an attorney representing Mr. Aranda's family, said the ruling is further proof that police and prosecutors do not vigorously pursue investigations when the suspect is a police officer. "I do not believe the Dallas Police Department ever truly investigated this as they would if it had been someone who was not a Dallas police officer who had killed someone," Mr. Sanderfer said. Aranda died just a few days shy of his19th birthday. The teenager and two others were allegedly breaking into a car when Dagen spotted them. The lieutenant said one of the boys made a threatening gesture, and fearing for his life Dagen opened fire, shooting Aranda in the back of the head from 3 feet away. Aranda's family said it was excessive force. "To take his life for a broken window ... no, it's not justice," said aunt Laura Caudillio. [more ] and [more ]

• The last officer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to be indicted for a use-of-force-related death was a former Grand Prairie officer who was found not guilty in a trial. Blake Hubbard was acquitted in 1997 of  criminal wrongdoing in the 1996 shooting death of Joe Calloway, a mentally ill man the officer said lunged at a fellow officer with a pocketknife. His indictment was the first in 25 years.  [more ]

Comments

[anonymous]

I think that these types of violent events towards colored people are getting to be more and more common. I am only 17 years old, an honor student, and I work to get what I want; but, in my life, I've already seen my share of violence. My brother is one of those troubled teens; he's in a gang, does drugs, and party's until he's throwing up everywhere. He told me that when he was in the juvenile detention center, one of the security officers new him from a previous occasion, and disliked him very much. When they put the cuffs on him, they did it forcefully, while he was giving no resistance. They had him kneel down and when they picked him up, they picked him up by the wrists. He had bruises on his wrists for the rest of the week and could hardly move them. He was not given medical attention, nor was he taken care of in any way. When they asked the security officer why he had done that, he said my brother was resisting and talking smack. I hope for every colored persons sake, that nothing like this ever happens to them. Racial discrimination, prejudice, and all of that other stuff is disgusting, and appauling. I am a hispanic young lady, and I will change the world.

[ESPI]

JUSTICE HAS NOT BEEN MADE FOR MY COUSIN'S DEATH. THE TWO OTHER WITNESSES WERE NEVER ON THE STAND, BUT INSTEAD THEY LET THE JURY HEAR WHAT TWO POLICE OFFICERS THAT WERE NOT EVEN THERE HAD TO SAY. THERE ARE MANY CONFLICTING POINTS IN THIS STORY FROM THE POLICE'S POINT OF VIEW. WHICH IS THE ONLY POINT OF VIEW THAT THE COURTS HEARD. ORLANDO WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE.....................................................HE DID MAKE SOME MISTAKES IN HIS SHORT LIFE, BUT HIS SENTENCE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE DEATH PENALTY. A YOUNG MAN FULL OF LIFE WAS KILLED FOR BREAKING A WORTHLESS AND PRICELESS WINDOW. I THINK ONE OF THE BOYS WAS CHARGED WITH BURGLARY, WHICH I THINK THEY DIDN'T EVEN TAKE ANYTHING BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THEY WERE SUPRISED BY THE "SECURITY/OFFICER". MAYBE PROPERTY DAMAGE???????THE STORY TELLS THAT ORLANDO WAS SHOT CLOSE RANGE AND I AGREE WITH THE PHRASE THAT HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY USED FOR THIS CASE "EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS USED" OUR FAMILY WILL NEVER REST UNTIL REAL JUSTICE IS MADE.
IN LOVING MEMORY
ORLANDO ARANDA
1985-2004

[Martie]

DPS Officer JOHN DAGEN Shot and kill my Nephew ORLANDO at a 3 Ft distance. Shooting him on the Back of his head. DPS did not ever prusue an investigation. How can a Grand Jury DECLINED TO INDICT OFFICER JOHN DAGEN of such CRIME? Why did they keep him out in the streets... he had a place in a JAIL CELL. The officer was out of work for three days and later returned. My nephew was not armed was doing what he was told to do and STILL was SHOT. Officer You just dont know the pain that the Death of my nephew
Has cause His mother brothers and all his family. RIP.... Nando miss u Mucho!!!:(