I-Team: DPD Officer Investigation Started After CBS 11 Inquiry
DALLAS (CBS 11 NEWS) - The CBS 11 I-Team uncovered new details in a police chase case that killed a 16-year-old girl. Internal documents show top Dallas Police leaders didn't investigate the actions of the officers involved until the I-Team started asking questions.
In most police chase cases, an officer's actions are immediately reviewed to make sure they followed the rules. But documents CBS Investigative Reporter Mireya Villarreal got a hold of detail the department's delay in this case.
Dash-cam video obtained by the CBS 11 I-Team shows Angel Palomo and Cesar Ramirez fleeing from police on December 7, 2012. Police were chasing the pair after receiving a robbery call where the victims were threatened with a gun. Palomo and Ramirez are accused of stealing credit cards, a gold chain, and an iPhone.
"They're telling me we don't want nobody to die because of the gun they had. But what about them driving the truck? That is a very powerful weapon," Maria Ipina told us.
The Ipina family was riding inside the white Kia that was hit by Palomo's Explorer. Maria and Martin Ipina survived, but had serious injuries they're still recovering from them. Their 16-year-old daughter, Angeles Ipina, died at the hospital.
"They never tried to stop," Maria Ipina said. "From what I see on the video, not the guys, not even the police. They just kept going."
Back in May we took the Ipina's concerns to Assistant Chief Thomas Lawrence who oversees the seven patrol divisions in Dallas.
"In those types of instances, we do what's called an administrative inquiry, which is somewhat similar to an internal affairs investigation," Assistant Chief Lawrence explained.
But Assistant Chief Lawrence didn't tell us he ordered the administrative inquiry just two days after CBS 11's Mireya Villarreal requested an interview through the police department's communication office.
The email was sent by Villarreal on May 13th. An internal report from Dallas PD shows Assistant Chief Lawrence requested the investigation of his officers' actions on May 15th.
"We want to because of the loss of life and because of the severity of the incident. We want to look at everything to make sure there is nothing we could have done differently," Assistant Chief Lawrence noted.
The report we got a hold of also shows the handgun and knife used in the alleged robbery were never found by police.
Angel Palomo's case is set for trial at the end of July, where he'll face a number of charges against including murder and robbery.
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