The Anaheim Police Department has come under scrutiny in the wake of two officer-involved shootings that took place over the July 21-22 weekend. The events prompted angry responses from local residents and protests in the region and elsewhere in the country.
In response, the Attorney General's Office and the FBI have agreed to do an independent review of the two shootings.
A timeline of events in the case is listed below. Click on the links for additional articles and videos on the story.
July 21: Anaheim police officers shoot and kill an unarmed 25-year-old man, Manuel Angel Diaz, after a foot chase through an alley. The shooting sparks a protest that begins hours later and is carried into the next day. During the protest, roughly 70 demonstrators stand outside the Anaheim Police Department and shout "No Justice! No Peace!"
July 22: Three protesters are detained after the protest is quelled. Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait announces that he has called for an independent probe to investigate the shootings. Full Story
Officers shoot and kill another man, Joel Mathew Acevedo, at about 11:30 p.m. that night. Acevedo's death marked the second deadly officer-involved shooting of the weekend. Police say Acevedo was a gang member and had fired at the officers before being fatally shot. Full Story
July 24: The family of Manuel Diaz announces plans to file a $50 million lawsuit against the city and police department. Full Story
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Protesters gather outside Anaheim City Hall starting around 4 p.m. Police issue a dispersal order at about 9 p.m. and reportedly pepper-spray demonstrators who do not leave. Several fires break out and at least one person is transported to the hospital after being shot in the head with a pepperball. Several bank and coffee shop windows are smashed with rocks and at least five people are arrested. Full Story
July 25: Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait denounces violence and vandalism at a morning news conference. He says he welcomes public comment at council meetings but does not accept "violent protests, vandalism or arson perpetrated under the guise of public protest."
July 27: John Welter, Anaheim’s police chief, holds an emergency morning meeting with 22 advisory board members about keeping the peace. He plans to reach out to churches, schools and businesses with the help of bilingual Spanish speakers. Full Story
Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait meets with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI. Both agencies agree to do an independent review of the two shootings. Full Story
Anaheim police shoot at but do not hit a suspected burglar. Full Story
Police Chief Welter's address and phone number surface online after hacker group Anonymous posts the information as a sign of solidarity with the Anaheim protesters.
July 29: Up to 300 demonstrators protest outside Anaheim police headquarters, beginning around noon and continuing through the afternoon. Full Story
July 30: Anaheim police officials tell NBC4 that they are working to ease tensions by opening up communication with local community groups, including the nonprofits Community Service Programs, Inc. and the Orange County Human Relations Commission. Full story
July 31: Anaheim community leaders appeal to the Anaheim City Council to address the issue of Latino representation on the council. Full Story
Aug. 1: An investigation by NBC4 shows that Anaheim police have wounded or killed more people in shootings in the first seven months of 2012 than they have in the previous two years combined. Full Story
Aug. 2: The Anaheim City Council holds a special closed session to address public safety and an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit, filed in June 2012, that claims the city's at-large voting system has limited minority representation. Full Story
Aug. 7: Anaheim officials cancelled Tuesday's "National Night Out" -- an event meant to connect communities with law enforcement -- amid concerns of protests. Full Story
Aug. 8: Anaheim City Council gave residents a chance to voice their concerns over diversity in the local government, weeks after the violent protests. Full Story
Aug. 17: Prisoners’ rights group calls for the arrests and prosecutions of the officers involved in the shootings.
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