UPDATED 3:15PM | Police have moved the search for Dorner into the San Bernardino mountains after a burning vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s truck was reported in Big Bear. All vehicles going off the mountain were screened and all Big Bear schools were on lockdown. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deployed armed teams in the mountainous terrain. The Los Angeles Times reports:
There had been multiple reported sightings in the Big Bear area on Thursday of Dorner’s truck, sources said. Dorner was last seen wearing military fatigues and has a military ID. Coincidentally, at the Bear Mountain and Snow Summit ski resorts, customers who wore their military uniforms on Thursday could purchase a discounted $38 lift ticket.
The Times also has a great interactive timeline of the manhunt. Click the image below to view it.
ORIGINAL 11:00AM | A massive multi-agency manhunt is underway for 33 year-old former Los Angeles Police Department Harbor Division officer Christopher Jordan Dorner who police say revenge killed a young Irvine couple on Sunday before going on a rampage Wednesday night that left one Riverside patrol officer dead and several other law enforcement officials wouded in Corona.
Breaking news reports from San Diego indicate that Dorner’s LAPD badge and photo identification was found near a car rental place by Lindbergh Field and reports indicate that he spent Wednesday night at a motel in Point Loma, after police say he attempted to steal a boat and flee to Mexico. Other items conected to Dorner were also found in a dumpster in National City.
Long Beach Police Department officers have not been deployed to assist in the manhut, but LBPD spokesperson Sgt. Aaron Eaton told the Post that the Department is “taking precautions” and communicating with law enforcement partners to get as much information as possible on the ongoing situation.
“There are discussions happening and communticaton occurring with officers and city partners to ensure everyone is safe,” said Eaton. “We of course encourage anyone to call the police when they feel there is a potential sighting of suspect vehicle.”
Dorner is driving a grey 2005 Nissan Titan possibly with a ski rack on the roof. It is believed that he is switching license plates as both California 7X03191 and 8D83987 have been associated with the vehicle in the last 24 hours. The suspect is described as a male, black, 270 pounds and six-feet tall. With training as both an LAPD officer and a Navy reservist, Dorner is considered armed and extremely dangerous.
At a Thursday morning press conference, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck reminded the public not to engage the suspect; if you spot his vehicle, immediately call 911.
The make and model of the truck Dorner is belived to be driving. Above: Chris Dorner.
Wednesday night’s rampage began just hours after Dorner was named at a different press conference as the suspect wanted in the brutal killing Sunday of newly engaged Irvine couple Monica Quan and Keith Lawrence. Between 1AM and 2AM Thursday morning, Dorner is suspected of ambushing and killing a Riverside patrol officer and wounding several other law enforcement officials in Corona before heading to San Diego–a rampage outlined in a multi-page manifesto titled “Last Resort” posted online earlier this week.
The manifesto outlines how Dorner believes he was releived of his LAPD duties in 2008 for “whistleblowing” against what he calls “a culture of lying, racism and excessive use of force” in the Department and he names several officials he holds personally responsible for the end of his law enforcement career. His objectives, he wrote, are to “conduct DA operations to destroy, exploit and seize designated targets.” “What would you do to clear your name?” the manifesto begins.
The Orange County Register obtained a copy of the dismissal report for Dorner, which cites witness statements as well as his delay in reporting the alleged misconduct as factors in his firing.
“[It] irreparably destroys Dorner’s credibility, and brings into question his suitability for continued employment as a police officer,” the report read. The report also stated Dorner was struggling to reintegrate into the department after returning from a year of military service.
One of Dorner’s first victims, former Cal State Long Beach student Quan–who was Cal State Fullerton’s assistant basketball coach at the time of her death–was the daughter of Randy Quan, a former LAPD police captain involved in the review process that led to Dorner’s firing.
Dorner also cites other LAPD officers and personnel, but the ambush shooting of Riverside police stopped at a red light late Wednesday night have other law enforcement agencies across the Southland on high alert.
More information as it becomes available.