Lawyer: Pasadena police scapegoated 911 caller

Published April 7, 2012 3:09AM (EDT)

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — A lawyer for a man who wrongly reported an armed robbery to 911 says Pasadena police are scapegoating his client in the shooting death of a college boy.

Oscar Carrillo's lawyer Andres Bustamante said Friday that Pasadena police are doing damage control at his client's expense and wrongly blaming Carrillo in 19-year-old Kendrec McDade's death.

Carrillo called 911 to report an armed robbery March 24.

Chief Phillip Sanchez says Carrillo's call led them to believe McDade was an armed robbery suspect when they opened fire, but McDade was unarmed.

Bustamante says Pasadena police felt pressure from the community to dodge blame and scapegoated Carrillo in the 19-year-old's death.

Pasadena police, LA county prosecutors and a watchdog agency have opened investigations. The FBI is assessing whether to open a formal investigation.


By Salon Staff

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