ST. GEORGE – A manhunt involving countless law enforcement officers of agencies at state and federal levels is underway in search of an LAPD officer who was fired in 2008, and is now suspected of killing three people so far, carrying out a manifesto seeking to “clear his name” through the killing of many people he begrudges.
The manifesto was posted on Facebook, purportedly by Christopher Dorner, and, according to CBS News, is believed by authorities to have come from him because it includes details only he would know.
Among nine cities listed by Dorner in his manifesto as places he has lived is Cedar City. And law enforcement throughout Utah are on the lookout for him.
Today’s concerted search effort was made by authorities in California searching the San Bernardino mountain community of Big Bear. And a false tip had authorities searching for Dorner in the San Diego area as well.
Iron County Sheriff Mark Gower said that Dorner lived in Cedar City from 1999-2002, with no criminal record to speak of here, while Southern Utah University spokesman Dean O’Driscoll is reported by The Daily Breeze as confirming Dorner’s attendance at SUU from 1997-2001.
“We are aware of his ties to this area,” St. George Police Deputy Chief Richard Farnsworth said, “but have no information that would lead us to believe he intends to come here. His threats to this point have been quite specific to certain persons and the LAPD. That does not mean he would not harm citizens but we have no reason at this point to believe he is looking for victims outside of the ones listed in his ‘manifesto.’”
As a precaution, Gower said that law enforcement agencies in Utah are all under an “attempt to locate” alert.
“We have nothing that would say, ‘yes, he’s coming this way or en route here,’” Gower said this morning.
Both the sheriff and deputy chief emphasized that if anyone sees Dorner or thinks they see him, they should avoid him and call 911 immediately.
“Get away, be careful, don’t do anything to escalate,” the sheriff said, “make space, distance and call us as soon as you can.”
“We want to find him on our terms not his,” Gower said.
Dorner lived in Cedar City over a decade ago as a student at Southern Utah University where he also played on the football team as a running back. He was not a starter or a star and only played limited minutes as a reserve. According to The Daily Breeze, SUU’s O’Driscoll said he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in psychology.
Among the lesser demands of his manifesto, Dorner called upon journalists. “… investigate every location I resided in growing up. Find any incidents where I was ever accused of being a bully,” he wrote. “You won’t, because it doesn’t exist. It’s not in my DNA. Never was.”
Former SUU professor Stephen Roberds is quoted by KSL.com Utah as having little memory of Dorner from classes but clear memory of Dorner visiting the campus after he graduated.
“He came back to campus probably twice while he was in Naval training,” Roberds said according to KSL.com’s report by McKenzie Romero. “He was very focused and directed, very polite.”
Dorner’s manifesto opens: “I know most of you who personally know me are in disbelief to hear from media reports that I am suspected of committing such horrendous murders and have taken drastic and shocking actions in the last couple of days. You are saying to yourself that this is completely out of character of the man you knew who always wore a smile wherever he was seen.”
Romero reports just such a response from the professor. He called the actions Dorner is accused of as “totally out of character” from the soft-spoken young man he knew more than a decade ago, and who always addressed him as “sir.”
After graduation Dorner served in the U.S. Navy and later joined the LAPD.
In 2007, while serving as an LAPD officer Dorner filed a complaint within the Department accusing his field training officer, Sgt. Teresa Evans, of kicking a schizophrenic suspect, Christopher Gettler, during an arrest at the Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro, California. The LAPD Board of Rights found that Dorner’s complaint was false and terminated his employment for making false statements.
Dorner appealed the termination decision to the Los Angeles Superior Court under a petition for writ of mandamus, asking the Court to intervene; the court denied his request. Dorner then appealed the trial court’s ruling to California’s Court of Appeals, which did consider his appeal and testimony, but ruled against him, affirming the trial court’s decision.
Monica Quan, 28, is one of the three people Dorner is believed to have killed so far. She was the daughter of a former LAPD retired captain turned lawyer who represented Dorner in the primary disiciplinary action before the LAPD’s Board of Rights. He is one of numerous people listed against whom Dorner has grievances.
Dorner’s manifesto states:
“The attacks will stop when the department states the truth about my innocence, PUBLICLY!!! I will not accept any type of currency/goods in exchange for the attacks to stop, nor do i want it. I want my name back, period. There is no negotiation.”
Resources
Murder Suspect Chris Dorner’s Online Manifesto • Ed. note: The content of the manifesto is graphic and not appropriate for all readers. Parental discretion is advised.
Christopher Dorner – Appellate Court Decision
St. George News Sports Editor Andy Griffin contributed to this report.
Southern Utah University and its coaching staff have yet to respond to our inquiries.
Related posts
Recent surveillance photos of Christopher Dorner from Irvine Police Department
UPDATED 9:52 p.m. to include O’Driscoll’s statements reported by The Daily Breeze.
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