The State Attorney General on Friday announced an investigation into the fatal shooting of a motorcyclist by officers with the Newport Beach Police Department late last week.
The April 18th incident with the 45-year-old rider, now identified as Laguna Niguel resident Geoffrey Stirling, unfolded at around 9:15 p.m.
Stirling was reportedly stopped by Newport police in the area of Pacific Coast Highway, west of Superior Avenue, though officials did not provide a reason for the traffic stop.
“During the stop, the male adult rider, who was the sole occupant of the motorcycle, became uncooperative,” officials said in a news release. “An officer-involved shooting occurred, resulting in the male sustaining injuries.”
The 45-year-old was rushed to Hoag Hospital where he was later declared deceased.
So far, there has been no suggestion that the motorcyclist was armed, only that he was “uncooperative.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, Stirling was scheduled to appear at an arraignment hearing Monday for a felony arson charge in connection with a March 21st fire. It is unclear if that matter had anything to do with the traffic stop.
A day after the fatal police shooting, California State Attorney General Rob Bonta announced in a press release that the California Department of Justice would be conducting an independent investigation into the Newport Beach shooting.
The Newport Beach Police Department is also conducting its own investigation into the shooting and, per state law, has 45 days from the date of the incident to release officer-worn body camera footage of the incident.
Officials with the California Department of Justice encouraged anyone with information about the shooting to call 916-210-2871.
