Jasmine Stole

jstole@guampdn.com

A motorcycle rider shot by an airport police officer in June wasn’t armed with a weapon at the time of the shooting, according to Capt. Kim Santos, spokeswoman for Guam Police Department.

Santos on Wednesday released the name of the rider, Joshua John Mesa, 25. Former Guam attorney general Leonardo Rapadas is representing Mesa.

The airport authority concluded its internal investigation into the shooting last week, clearing airport officers Vincent Castro and Cameron Chaco of wrongdoing, according to airport spokeswoman Rolenda Faasuamalie.

However, GPD still is conducting a separate investigation, according to Santos.

Airport: Cops in June motorcyclist shooting 'responded with the appropriate use of force'

Castro and Chaco attempted to pull over the motorcycle rider near the airport at about 12:30 p.m. on June 15, but Mesa reportedly refused to stop, police said in a previous statement to the media.

Airport police chief Robert Camacho previously said the motorcycle Mesa was driving was suspected of being stolen.

Instead of stopping, Mesa fled and proceeded onto Hamburger Road in Harmon, with the airport police in pursuit, according to police. Mesa crashed the motorcycle after one of the airport police officer’s fired a shot at Mesa, police said.

Mesa sustained a gunshot wound to the lower part of his body. He was taken to and treated at Guam Memorial Hospital.

Authorities haven’t said which police officer fired the shot.

Faasuamalie previously stated in an email that the officer involved in the shooting “responded with the appropriate use of force when the alleged suspect placed the officer and others in immediate danger of seriously bodily injury or death.”

Complaint filed over airport police officer shooting at motorcyclist

Injury claim

Nothing related to the shooting has been filed in court. However, an injury claim has been filed with the airport.

Rapadas confirmed Wednesday he now is representing the man who filed an injury claim with A.B. Won Pat International Airport and said he would give the airport notice Wednesday.

Mesa filed a complaint regarding the shooting with the airport, Faasuamalie confirmed previously. Because the complaint related to potential litigation, Faasuamalie declined to comment further on it.

Rapadas, who was elected as the island’s chief legal officer from 2011 through 2015, said he still is reviewing the case and cannot say if a related claim will be filed in local court.

Castro and Chaco were placed on paid, administrative leave in June after the airport began its investigation. After the investigation cleared them of wrongdoing, they returned to work Aug. 17, according to Faasuamalie.

Motorcyclist, shot by airport police officer, released from hospital

Use of force

Attorney Charles Stake, who is not connected to the case of the motorcycle rider, conducts training for police reserve officers. He said appropriate use of force is the most important segment in his instruction.

Simply put, he said firearm usage should only be used to save the law enforcement officer's life or to save someone else’s life.

Stake also said a vehicle could be determined to be a deadly weapon, but law enforcement must considered other factors, including whether or not the vehicle is bearing down on you or someone else or if the vehicle is moving away from the officer.