{"id":29565,"date":"2017-02-21T17:08:36","date_gmt":"2017-02-22T01:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=29565"},"modified":"2017-02-21T17:12:21","modified_gmt":"2017-02-22T01:12:21","slug":"known-gang-member-suspected-killing-police-officer-whittier-cousin-east-l","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=29565","title":{"rendered":"Known Gang Member\u2019 Suspected of Killing Police Officer in Whittier, Cousin in East L.A."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"> <script height=\"433px\" width=\"770px\" src=\"http:\/\/player.ooyala.com\/iframe.js#ec=d1Ynd3OTE6RFz-Esd5Y8hgaBZkiz02a4&#038;pbid=f987944e2b8d47c5ad7da7977780b8bd\"><\/script><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The man suspected of killing a police officer in Whittier and his own cousin in East Los Angeles\u00a0was identified on Tuesday afternoon as 26-year-old Michael Christopher Mejia, the Los Angeles County Sheriff&#8217;s Department said.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_462322\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/mm.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;strip=all\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-462322\" src=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/mm.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=248&amp;strip=all\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 248px) 100vw, 248px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/mm.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=248 248w, https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/mm.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=496 496w, https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/mm.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=124 124w\" alt=\"Michael Christopher Mejia is seen in a photo released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.\" width=\"248\" height=\"300\" data-attachment-id=\"462322\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/ktla.com\/2017\/02\/21\/man-suspected-of-killing-whittier-police-officer-and-cousin-to-be-identified-tuesday-afternoon-lasd\/mm\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/mm.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;strip=all\" data-orig-size=\"892,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"michael mejia whittier police officer killing east l.a. shooting suspect\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/mm.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=248&amp;strip=all\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/mm.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=770&amp;strip=all\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Michael Christopher Mejia is seen in a photo released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff&#8217;s Department.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Mejia, who was released from Pelican Bay State Prison last April, is suspected of fatally shooting Whittier Police Department Officer Keith Boyer and 47-year-old Roy Roger Torres in two separate incidents that happened hours apart on Monday, according to the department.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-29569 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/KTLA-logo-300x84.jpg\" alt=\"KTLA-logo\" width=\"300\" height=\"84\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/KTLA-logo-300x84.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/KTLA-logo-768x215.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/KTLA-logo.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Torres was shot to death in the 1400 block of Volney Drive in East Los Angeles around 5:30 a.m., according to Rudy Molano with the L.A. County coroner&#8217;s office.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Less than three hours later, Mejia allegedly opened fire on two police officers in Whittier, killing Boyer and injuring the other, the L.A. County Sheriff&#8217;s Department said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The slain officer was described as\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/ktla.com\/2017\/02\/20\/police-officer-killed-in-whittier-shooting-identified-chief\/\" target=\"_blank\">a veteran of the department<\/a>\u00a0who was among &#8220;the best of the best,&#8221; according to Whittier Police Chief Jeff A. Piper.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The second officer, identified as Officer Patrick Hazell, is expected to survive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Boyer and Hazell were responding to a traffic collision around 8:30 a.m. Monday when the shooting happened, according to sheriff&#8217;s Lt. John Corina.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_462021\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/16865070_1418536278196828_2477311505263571933_n1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;strip=all\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-462021\" src=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/16865070_1418536278196828_2477311505263571933_n1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300&amp;strip=all\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/16865070_1418536278196828_2477311505263571933_n1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/16865070_1418536278196828_2477311505263571933_n1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=600 600w, https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/16865070_1418536278196828_2477311505263571933_n1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=150 150w\" alt=\"Whittier Police Department Officer Keith Boyer is shown in a photo he posted to his Facebook page on Nov. 27, 2013.\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" data-attachment-id=\"462021\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/ktla.com\/2017\/02\/20\/police-officer-killed-in-whittier-shooting-identified-chief\/16865070_1418536278196828_2477311505263571933_n\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/16865070_1418536278196828_2477311505263571933_n1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;strip=all\" data-orig-size=\"960,960\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"slain whittier police officer keith boyd\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/16865070_1418536278196828_2477311505263571933_n1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300&amp;strip=all\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/16865070_1418536278196828_2477311505263571933_n1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=770&amp;strip=all\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Whittier Police Department Officer Keith Boyer is shown in a photo he posted <\/span>to<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"> his Facebook page on Nov. 27, 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The suspect, who was driving a vehicle allegedly stolen out of East L.A., had rear-ended a car on Colima Road and Mar Vista Street, a sheriff&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/local.nixle.com\/alert\/5855841\/?sub_id=1000000472\" target=\"_blank\">news release<\/a> stated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">When the officers contacted Mejia they asked him to get out of the vehicle and were going to pat him down to check for weapons, according to Corina.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">As he exited the car, the suspect brandished a handgun and shot at the officers, who returned fire, the release stated. It was unknown how many shots were fired during the close-range gunbattle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Mejia was also injured and hospitalized in stable condition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Authorities initially described him only as a &#8220;known gang member&#8221; from Los Angeles who was recently paroled on early release. Corina said he had an extensive rap sheet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Tuesday that <a href=\"http:\/\/ktla.com\/2017\/02\/21\/gang-member-suspected-of-killing-whittier-police-officer-was-not-released-from-prison-early-state-says\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mejia was not on parole<\/a>, but had been released to the supervision of the county Probation Department in April 2016.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/local\/lanow\/la-me-whittier-police-shooting-suspect-20170221-story.html\" target=\"_blank\">Los Angeles Times<\/a>, Mejia was sentenced to four years in state prison in 2010 for <\/span>robbery,<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"> and another two-year sentence in 2014 on charges including grand theft auto.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">L.A. County jail records show six arrests for a Michael C. Mejia since July 2016, including Monday\u2019s and two others this year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Mejia was last arrested on Feb. 2 &#8212; his second in 2017 &#8212; for violating his release terms, the Times reported. He served a 10-day sentence before being released again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">&#8220;Unbeknownst to the Whittier police officers, when they went to pull the car over, they had a murder suspect &#8230; in a stolen car,&#8221; Corina said.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_461872\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/whittier-ois.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;strip=all\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-461872\" src=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/whittier-ois.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300&amp;strip=all\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/whittier-ois.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/whittier-ois.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=600 600w, https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/whittier-ois.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=150 150w\" alt=\"A police officer was fatally shot in Whittier after responding to a car crash on Feb. 20, 2017. (Credit: KTLA) \" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" data-attachment-id=\"461872\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/ktla.com\/2017\/02\/20\/3-shot-including-2-police-officers-during-shooting-in-whittier-sheriffs-dept\/whittier-ois\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/whittier-ois.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;strip=all\" data-orig-size=\"1920,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"whittier ois\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/whittier-ois.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300&amp;strip=all\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/whittier-ois.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=770&amp;strip=all\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A police officer was fatally shot in Whittier after responding to a car crash on Feb. 20, 2017. (Credit: KTLA)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Torres was identified as Mejia&#8217;s cousin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/3eriy9c\" target=\"_blank\">GoFundMe page<\/a> set up to cover the cost of a memorial fund described Torres as a &#8220;loving&#8221; father, son, uncle and cousin, a sentiment echoed by his niece.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cHe was a loving person, <\/span>he\u2019s give<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"> you the shirt off his back if you needed it,\u201d said the woman, who identified herself as Tiffany. \u201cHe was like the older brother that I didn\u2019t have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A motive for the first shooting\u00a0remains under investigation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In a tearful interview, the victim&#8217;s aunt told KTLA the suspect goes by &#8220;Mikey&#8221; and lived with his grandfather in Commerce. She said he had a criminal history that dated back to when he was a child.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_462264\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/torres1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;strip=all\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-462264\" src=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/torres1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300&amp;strip=all\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/torres1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/torres1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=600 600w, https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/torres1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=150 150w\" alt=\"Roy Torres is pictured in a photo posted to a GoFundMe account. \" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" data-attachment-id=\"462264\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/ktla.com\/2017\/02\/21\/man-suspected-of-killing-whittier-police-officer-and-cousin-to-be-identified-tuesday-afternoon-lasd\/torres-7\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/torres1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;strip=all\" data-orig-size=\"1920,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Roy Torrest East L.A. fatal shooting\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/torres1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300&amp;strip=all\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/torres1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=770&amp;strip=all\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Roy Torres is pictured in a photo posted to a GoFundMe account.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cHe\u2019s hurt other people before, and he\u2019s been in prison for that. And he should never have been let out. This is who they should keep in prison \u2026 he killed other people before,&#8221; the aunt said through sobs. &#8220;There was no need for this to happen.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell addressed early release and rehabilitation programs when he spoke alongside Piper at a news conference Monday afternoon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">&#8220;We&#8217;re putting people back on the street that aren&#8217;t ready to be back on the street,&#8221; McDonnell said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Piper, noting he&#8217;d seen a rise in violence against officers during arrests, referenced ballot-box propositions approved in the past few years that he said were aiding in increasing crime.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">&#8220;You have no idea how it&#8217;s changed in that last four years,&#8221; the police chief said. &#8220;People don&#8217;t want to follow rules. People don&#8217;t care about other people.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_461993\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/suspect1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;strip=all\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-461993\" src=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/suspect1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300&amp;strip=all\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/suspect1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/suspect1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=600 600w, https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/suspect1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=150 150w\" alt=\"The suspected gunman in a fatal police shooting is taken away in an ambulance on Feb. 20, 2017. (Credit: OnScene.TV) \" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" data-attachment-id=\"461993\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/ktla.com\/2017\/02\/20\/3-shot-including-2-police-officers-during-shooting-in-whittier-sheriffs-dept\/suspect1-6\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/suspect1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;strip=all\" data-orig-size=\"1920,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"whittier police officer fatally shot suspect\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/suspect1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300&amp;strip=all\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/tribktla.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/suspect1.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;w=770&amp;strip=all\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The suspected gunman in a fatal police shooting is taken away in an ambulance on Feb. 20, 2017. (Credit: OnScene.TV)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesman disputed what the Sheriff&#8217;s Department said, however, telling KTLA the suspect served his entire sentence and had not been released early.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The suspect was under the supervision of the L.A. County Probation Department, according to Reaver Bingham, the deputy chief of the department.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">He had \u201cnot fulfilled his obligations\u201d of probation, Bingham said. The suspect was eligible for county supervision under AB 109, a 2011 California law meant to reduce the number of inmates in state prisons.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The suspect, who had served time in a state prison, was released into the supervision of county probation because his offense was considered \u201cnon-serious, non-violent, and non-sexual,&#8221; according to Bingham.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Mejia remains hospitalized and has been booked on suspicion of a probation hold, according to the release. He is being held without bail.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Charges have not yet been\u00a0filed in the case.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; \u00a0 \u00a0 The man suspected of killing a police officer in Whittier and his own cousin in East Los Angeles\u00a0was identified on Tuesday afternoon as 26-year-old Michael Christopher Mejia, the Los&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,456],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-main-slider","category-video-stories"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Known Gang Member\u2019 Suspected of Killing Police Officer in Whittier, Cousin in East L.A.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"&nbsp; 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