2 Menifee Cops Who Fatally Shot Suspect: Officer IDs Released

MENIFEE, CA ? Two Menifee policemen who gunned down a domestic violence suspect when he allegedly went for his pistol following a pursuit were identified Wednesday.

The Menifee Police Department said that Officer Christopher Portman and Sgt. Terrence York were the two who confronted 29-year-old Freddy Robles of Menifee, culminating in the shooting last month.

Portman and York were placed on paid administrative leave following the deadly confrontation. However, they were restored to active duty within a week, police spokesman Chase Coburn said.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department's Force Investigations Detail, in cooperation with the county District Attorney's Office, is handling the probe into the shooting.

The police department intends to release a "critical incident community debrief" video via social media next month, Coburn said.

According to Menifee police, shortly before 9 p.m. on Nov. 17, patrol personnel were called to the 250000 block of Mountain Glen Circle to investigate alleged acts of domestic abuse.

Robles' girlfriend, whose identity was not disclosed, alleged that he was in her house, assaulting her while armed with a handgun, police said.

"Prior to officers arriving, Robles left the location only to return to the neighborhood shortly after officers arrived," according to a police statement. "Upon his sighting officers, he drove away again at high speed, and a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit lasted only a few minutes as Robles led officers back to the residence, where he exited his vehicle and attempted to force entry into the home."

Officers deployed less-lethal weapons in an attempt to stop him, but the effort did not net success, authorities said.

The police department said the suspect "turned toward officers while reaching for his handgun in the front of his waistband," at which point Portman and York opened fire.

No officers were injured.

The number of times Robles was hit was not specified. He was taken to a regional trauma center in grave condition and died a short time later.