By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news
Centralia Police Department Chief Bob Berg announced yesterday Officer Ruben Ramirez would be returned to normal patrol duties following a finding by a use of force review board that the officer acted appropriately when he shot and killed a suspect last month.
Berg said in a news release he remained confident since the beginning, the 15-year veteran of the department acted properly and used sound tactics in accordance with policies and procedures.
[1]Lobo
“I am thankful that he was not hurt and am confident that he will continue his excellent law enforcement service to the residents of our community,” Berg stated. “I am also pleased and grateful that his partner, Police Service Dog Lobo, was with him that day. I truly believe that the K-9 was instrumental in saving the life of Officer Ramirez.”
It was the morning of June 29 and police were called to a shoplifting incident a the Chevron service station on the corner of South Tower Avenue and East Cherry Street. Ramirez contacted two individuals, and released his K-9 partner when 43-year-old Paul M. Edmundson pulled away from him, according to the Lewis County prosecutor’s summary of the investigation.
As the two men and the German Shepherd fought on the ground, Ramirez detected Edmundson began pulling a handgun from beneath his clothing, backed up and told him to drop it and after hearing a “click”, fired one shot, the summary of the outside investigation concluded.
Edmundson, who was going by the name Christopher Matthews didn’t steal the burritos, but Ramirez recognized the name on his identification as a suspect in an assault two days earlier, according to the investigation.
Edmundson had arrived to Centralia about a month earlier and was staying with his girlfriend Pepper Tree Motel and RV Park.
The investigative team of detectives from surrounding police agencies was headed up by Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Detective Ben Elkins. Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer concluded from their reports last week Ramirez’s use of deadly force was justified.
An internal use-of-force review board then convened and made its recommendation to the chief of police.
Berg said the panel included chiefs from Tumwater and Chehalis, a chief deputy from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, a Centralia police officer selected by Ramirez and a police commander from the Centralia Police Department.
Centralia police’s initial description of the events included Lobo grabbing the suspect’s arm preventing him from pulling his hand out of his pocket, but then briefly releasing his hold and then as Edmundson pulled out the handgun, biting onto his arm again.
It’s the second time this year a Centralia officer has shot and killed someone. In February, an officer fired eight shots at a 48-year-old Westport man staying at the Lakeview Inn after a night time encounter in a nearby residential neighborhood when the man refused to drop a knife. He too was cleared.
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For background, read “Centralia officer cleared in deadly bank parking lot shooting” from Tuesday July 22, 2014, here [2]