Mistrial in case against ex-officer

The former Whittier detective was accused of assault after fleeing man was shot in back.

- JAMES QUEALLY AND CHRISTOPHER BUCHANAN

ROBERT GAUTHIER Los Angeles Times FORMER Whittier police Det. Salvador Murillo testifies in his own defense.

A judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in a case against a former Whittier detective accused of multiple counts of assault.

Jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on charges that stemmed from a 2020 incident in which the officer, Salvador Murillo, opened fire on an unarmed fleeing suspect, striking the man twice in the back and severing his spine.

Murillo, 44, defended himself in court last week, denying that he had violated any law during the shooting.

The jury was split 7 to 5 for a guilty verdict on two charges of assault with a deadly weapon, and 8 to 4 for a guilty verdict on two charges of unlawful use of force with a deadly weapon by a peace officer.

Murillo stood stone-faced at attention as the judge addressed the court, but seemed relieved once the deadlock was announced.

"I think it came down to people's kind of fundamental feelings about law enforcement," said Murillo's attorney, Vicki Podberesky.

"It's about whether you can appreciate the fact that a law enforcement officer is in a dangerous position and has to make a split-second decision." Prosecutors declined to comment outside the courtroom. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office did not immediately respond to a question about whether they would seek to retry Murillo.