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Crows Landing fire chief witnesses brutal beating |
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Written by PI Staff
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Wednesday, 18 June 2008 |
Crows Landing’s fire chief became intertwined in an incident that has gripped the nation this week when he witnessed a Turlock man beating his 2-year-old son to death before the man was killed by a police officer.
Sergio Aguiar, 27, was ultimately shot by a Modesto police officer, and the toddler died a short time after he arrived at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock.
Chief Dan Robinson declined to be interviewed about the incident Monday, saying several media outlets had approached him that day and he did not talk with any of them.
“It’s very tragic,” Robinson said. “It’s nothing that anybody ever wants to see.”
However, Robinson reportedly told the Modesto Bee on Sunday that he was driving on Bradbury Road after returning from a late dinner in Turlock, when he noticed what at first looked like a man who had hit an animal.
He jumped out of his vehicle and confronted the man when he saw that it was a small child, according to the article, and listened to the man say demons were in the boy.
A Stanislaus County Sheriff’s helicopter that was patrolling the county landed near Bradbury and Blaker roads after dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call about a man in the roadway beating an infant, according to a sheriff’s department report.
Deputy Rob Latapie, who was piloting the helicopter, decided to make an emergency landing in an unlit cow pasture near the road. Then, Modesto police officer Jerry Ramar, who was assigned to the aircraft for the evening as a tactical flight officer, left the helicopter and ran to the roadway, according to the sheriff’s department. An electric barbed-wire fence blocked his way.
Investigators said he gave several commands to Aguiar to stop, but the man raised his middle finger and kicked the toddler, who was lying in the roadway, according to a sheriff’s report.
Ramar then fired one shot at Aguiar's forehead, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff’s department is still investigating why Aguiar harmed and ultimately killed the boy.
Detectives say Aguiar has no criminal history. A toxicology test will be conducted on both Aguiar and his son.
Both Latapie and Ramar said they have appreciated the community’s support and say it has helped them and their families get through this difficult time.
“I have never seen anything like that before, and I hope I never have to again,” Ramar said in a prepared statement.
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my heart goes out to the family who loved and will miss their baby boy.
i have a 2yr old son and i could not even think about something so horrible happening to him. may god rest his soul and be comfort to those who loved the baby.