El Monte officers killed in ambush were not warned that suspect had gun, was on PCP: report

A California police dispatcher failed to tell two officers before they were fatally shot by a convicted gang member that the suspect reportedly had a gun and was under the influence of PCP and methamphetamine, according to a 911 recording.

El Monte Police Department Officer Joseph Santana, 31, and Cpl. Michael Paredes, 42, were ambushed and killed on June 14, 2022, while responding to a report of a stabbing at a motel near Los Angeles. Another officer was wounded. The gunman, Justin Flores, then shot and killed himself.

The 911 call was made by Maria Zepeda, who reported that her daughter had been stabbed by Flores, her 35-year-old husband, at the Siesta Inn, the Southern California News Group reported Saturday.

During the 7-minute call, Zepeda repeatedly told the dispatcher that Flores had a recent history of violence against her daughter, was under the influence of PCP and meth and was armed and dangerous.

"He’s on PCP. He has a gun!" Zepeda said during the call.

That information, however, was not communicated over the radio by the dispatcher who deployed the three officers to the motel according to the news group.

Investigators said Flores ambushed the officers when they confronted him.

Detective Amber Montenegro, a lead investigator for the case, confirmed the dispatcher did not inform officers over the radio that Flores possibly had a gun and was on drugs. But the information was typed into the computer-aided dispatch system and visible to the responding officers on the computer terminals in their patrol vehicles, Montenegro said.

"They definitely had all the information in their boxes before they arrived, so they were able to look at the call and review it," Montenegro said during a Dec. 2023 briefing with Santana's family.

Montenegro said the dispatcher shouldn't be blamed. "You can’t put any of this all on one person," she said.

Santana's sister, Jessica Santana, said she believes the dispatcher should have relayed the information over the radio.

"It’s just I feel if they would have voiced it, it would have been different," Santana said. "That’s just what gets me, because my brother would still be here."

Flores was on probation for a gun charge at the time of the shooting, which occurred a day after his probation officer requested that he return to court later in the month, according to court records.

El Monte Police Chief Jake Fisher said he stands by the actions of his dispatchers and officers. He has released the following statement in response:

The El Monte Police Department continues to mourn the loss of our officers, Sergeant Michael Paredes and Officer Joseph Santana, who died in the line of duty on June 14, 2022. Together we are moving forward as we collectively continue to grieve and recover from the horrific event.

The El Monte Police Department is actively working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office to bring justice, and complete the final steps in this investigation.

Over the past year, we have been following our protocol and debriefing this tragedy with our personnel, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Department, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and other law enforcement agencies. LASD and LA County DA Investigators have interviewed all relevant witnesses, reviewed all police camera footage, CAD reports, call logs and have found no wrongdoing by our police officers or civilian personnel. We fully anticipate this finding to hold and that our DA will officially clear all involved officers and close the investigation.

The El Monte Police Department is committed to providing training, equipment, and resources to make our police officers as safe as possible while they protect and serve our community.

Some of the El Monte Police Department’s investments and improvements designed to improve officer safety, employee wellness, and personnel support include:

Operational and Communication based improvements:

• Expanded use of CAD and Data based systems and options to improve communication, and the coordination of response-based resources, techniques, and tactics
• Improved data hardware, software, training systems, and facilities
• Increased investment and accessibility to individual and department wide training

Technological and Equipment based investments:

• Implementation of Ballistic windshields of newly purchased police vehicles
• Purchase of portable tactical shields for use by officers during active shooter, unstable or unpredictable situations
• Implementation and purchase of advanced Drone Technology and officer-based pilot program
• Improved personal firearm and less than lethal equipment designed to serve as a force multiplier and which provide additional protection to officers
• Pending purchase of armored vehicle (BearCat) to improve response to various types of critical incidents and emergencies

Mental Health and Support-based implementations:

• Accessibility to counseling, support, and recovery services
• Other employee, family, and peer support-based assistance programs
• Increased accessibility to training, education, and career development programs
• Periodic internal and external debriefs regarding the impact the loss of our officers