Off-duty police officer attacked by mob

[seamusTX]

An off-duty police officer in southern California was viciously attacked by a mob -- hit on the head from behind -- and shot two of his attackers.

One of the attackers had previously been convicted of the same thing.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/vilan-of ... ranchville

- Jim

[WarHawk-AVG]

Vilan, who was on parole after spending six years in state prison for two assaults, had a lengthy history of ganging up on people and attacking them, according to court records. His convictions included two unprovoked assaults in 1996 and 1998, which involve Vilan smashing two people in the face with beer bottles.

In a 1996 attack, Vilan smashed a man in the face with a beer bottle, and continued to hold the broken bottle over his victim's face until the man's brother hit Vilan over the head with a wrench.

In the 1998 incident, Vilan, who was on bail at the time, approached a guest at a birthday party and sniffed him, saying, "You smell like white trash." The two men squared off, but before any punches could be thrown, Vilan smashed a beer bottle in the face of the man who stepped between them, court records show.

An October 2001 opinion by Court of Appeal, 4th Appellate District, also show a series of allged assaults for which Vilan was never charged, including a birthday party in August 1996 when Vilan and a friend were said to have brutally beat a guest who tried to stop them from ransacking the bedroom of the host's father, punching him and stomping on his head with steel-toed boots.

A month later, Vilan and two other men were accused of jumping the brother of one of Vilan's previous victims, punching him, knocking him to the ground and kicking him, court records show.

In November 1997, according to court accounts, Vilan and two other men attacked a man eating in his car with his girlfriend outside a fast-food restaurant, punching and kicking him.

Two months later, Vilan punched a man in the face three times just for looking at him, according to court records.

"None of the victims did any provoking – Vilan and his cohorts did all the provoking. All the victims were outnumbered. All the encounters featured 'low blows,' i.e., unfair fighting by Vilan and his cohorts," wrote Manuel A. Ramirez, presiding justice of the California Court of Appeal, 4rth Appellate District, in the October 2001 opinion rejecting Vilan's appeal that evidence admitted in his two trials was improperly admitted.

Won't be doing that again now will he

They should find and arrest all those involved with murder since they forced the officer to defend himself by their actions!

[Iggy Pop]

Interesting...I've heard of many occasions where a mob of cops have beaten the heck out of someone, but not the other way around.

[seamusTX]

This criminal was a poster boy for "three strikes and you're out." He clearly needed to be confined for the rest of his life after the first few attacks.

I also have to point out that the victim was apparently targeted because he was incapacitated. If he hadn't been armed, he might be dead or have permanent brain damage.

- Jim

[Xander]

This criminal was a poster boy for "three strikes and you're out." He clearly needed to be confined for the rest of his life after the first few attacks.

I also have to point out that the victim was apparently targeted because he was incapacitated. If he hadn't been armed, he might be dead or have permanent brain damage.

- Jim

[KD5NRH]

http://www.ocregister.com/news/vilan-of ... ranchville

Despite the officer's cries for the attack to stop, the beating continued, Franchville said. The officer pulled out his gun and fired five times, hitting Shaun Adam Vilan twice in the chest and arm, and 22-year-old Taylor Willis twice in the thigh.

Five shots, four hits, while injured, and he wasn't arrested for impersonating an officer?

[KBCraig]

Interesting...I've heard of many occasions where a mob of cops have beaten the heck out of someone, but not the other way around.

Sometimes they forget their surroundings:
http://www.google.com/search?q=%2Bsturg ... +angels%22

(I haven't researched that particular incident, just learned of it from some LEO colleagues, some of whom are Blue Knights who went to Sturgis. As I heard the unofficial version, the officer would have been justified shooting in response to being beaten, except he was greatly at fault in instigating the fight.)

[catwoman]

"Police officers are allowed, under California law, to carry guns while off-duty.

Investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department are investigating the shooting. The results of their investigation will be handed over to Riverside County prosecutors to determine whether the officer, a 10-year veteran of the Costa Mesa Police Department, should face criminal charges in the shooting."

Okay, I'm a little slow this evening...he's allowed to carry off-duty...he didn't provoke the attack...he didn't draw his weapon until after he was attacked...they're investigating to see if he should face criminal charges...I could have sworn he was the victim here...did I miss something? Is this just life in California? I'm really confused...
IMHO, he should get a medal for taking the BG out of circulation!

[seamusTX]

This is a typical mass of journalistic clichés. Newspaper and TV reporters pretend to be horrified by crime, then they are further horrified when someone does something about it. Someone smarter than me is going to have to figure it out.

That said, all shootings are examined by a grand jury. They really have to be. Otherwise, the police could just assassinate inconvenient people with no consequences. Southern California, particularly Los Angeles and San Diego, has an unfortunate history of police abuse.

- Jim

[Carry Big Stick]

Wow, hats off to the officer for still being able to think clear enough after a big knock to the head like that.
This guy had it coming. Karma taught him a lesson that maybe his friends will learn from. Best wishes to the officer for a fast recovery..

[pedalman]

Further proof that there are still "animals" out there who really have no business consuming our good oxygen.

[Rockrz]

An off-duty police officer

That was his first mistake is letting them know he's a cop in the first place.
Some things are better left un-said

[seamusTX]

How did the attackers know that he was an off-duty police officer? From what I've read, he was attacked without provocation.

- Jim

[Rockrz]

Many cops have to act like they're cops all the time, even when off duty.
They could probably tell by his actions or speech somehow.

[seamusTX]

The officer was sitting outside the restaurant about 7:15 p.m. when he was suddenly hit from behind ...

- Jim