Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced Wednesday that the L.A. County Sheriff's Department deputy who 'fabricated' a report that he'd been shot outside the Lancaster sheriff's station last week has been ousted by the department. Deputy Angel Reinosa, 21, was already relieved of duty earlier this week after he reportedly confessed that he'd made up the story about being shot.
No word on Reinosa's possible motivation in making the false report was mentioned during the press conference, Wednesday morning.
Reinosa, a probationary employee who had been working for the Sheriff's Department over the last year, claimed last week that he had been shot by a sniper outside the Lancaster station, sparking a massive response from law enforcement, who continued to search the community for the alleged sniper. Reinosa initially said that he had been on his way to his vehicle in the station's parking lot when he was struck by a bullet, shot from a nearby apartment complex. Reinosa said his protective vest stopped the shot to his chest, while another bullet grazed his shoulder.
Investigators began to doubt Reinosa's story after interviewing subjects and examining a hole in the shirt Reinosa was wearing that he claimed came from one of the bullets that struck him. However, investigators say the shirt's hole was far too large to have been created by a bullet. Investigators also pointed to Reinosa's own call for help, in which the rookie sounded too calm for someone who had just been shot, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Criminal charges against Reinosa are being considered by prosecutors, including making a false report of an emergency, filing a false police report, perjury, and even insurance fraud related to his claims to medical staff at a hospital and a possible worker's compensation claim, NBC Los Angeles reported. So far, no charges have been filed against the deputy.
Villanueva apologized to the city of Lancaster for the deputy's actions and said sheriff deputies would work to regain the community's trust.
Villanueva said in a statement that he was disappointed by Reinosa's apparent dishonesty and the significant waste of time and energy by Reinosa's colleagues to try and find the purported shooter, which turned out to be a hoax.
“When the news broke on Wednesday, I dropped everything I was doing to be at Lancaster and check on the welfare of Deputy Reinosa,” Villanueva said. “Like many responding personnel, I spent needless time and energy on something that did not happen. Rather than delay reporting what we learned for another day, I felt that it was urgent that we share the truth with the public.
“As sheriff, I am responsible for my deputies and am embarrassed and incredibly disappointed at what this deputy did,” Villanueva said. “I apologize to our community and our elected officials who rallied in our support. During the investigation we had suspicions concerning the validity of the claimed assault, but had to exercise care before accusing an employee of making false statements.