York City Police shoot, kill robbery suspect
Daily Record/Sunday News
York, PA - A York City Police officer shot and killed a suspected armed robber early Saturday morning after the two struggled and the man pulled a pistol, according to state police.
Two officers chased Victor Arvelo, 24, of York after he robbed a man of his car keys in the parking lot of the Waterway Bar & Grill, state police said. One officer caught up with Arvelo and tried to subdue him, but the suspect resisted arrest, state police Trooper Tom Pinkerton said.
A preliminary investigation showed the officer involved in the struggle saw Arvelo pull a pistol, and the officer shot him, Pinkerton said.
Police recovered Arvelo's pistol at the scene, and it was a stolen firearm, Pinkerton said.
The two officers involved in the shooting, who have not been named, have been placed on administrative leave, per the department's protocol, city police Chief Wes Kahley said.
Kahley said he believed the officers were trying to protect themselves and city residents.
State police are investigating the shooting and will turn the results over to District Attorney Tom Kearney, who will determine whether the shooting was justifiable.
The armed robbery
Paulo Sanchez, 43, of York parked his SUV in the parking lot of the Waterway, in the 200 block of West Philadelphia Street, early Saturday morning.
When he got out of his vehicle, police said, a man with a gun demanded Sanchez's keys. He turned over the keys and then
ran inside the restaurant and told employees what happened.
Employees saw Arvelo trying to start Sanchez's car. They ran toward him, and he bolted.
Two officers in a police car were alerted about the robbery that had just occurred, and, seeing Arvelo, they gave chase - both in the vehicle and on foot.
One of the officers caught up with Arvelo and attempted to physically restrain him, state police said. Arvelo resisted and pulled a pistol, police said, and the officer shot him.
Arvelo was taken to York Hospital, where he died. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday at Lehigh Valley Hospital near Allentown.
Sanchez declined to comment Saturday.
Family of suspect reacts
Family and friends of Arvelo gathered in the parking lot around lunchtime Saturday, seeking answers about what happened.
"We have a family full of questions and grief, and we can't find anything out until Monday," said Angel Rivera, a close friend of the family.
It's not that they were trying to go over the police's authority, he said.
"We care that much that we want to know," Rivera said. "We need closure, too."
The friends and family described Arvelo as a good father, who would spend time with a daughter every
day. His daughter, Emery Alexis Arvelo, is 1 year old.
He worked as a trash hauler for Penn Waste, and he was getting involved with an Internet business, said Rivera and another friend, Donald Brown II.
Online court records show Arvelo had pleaded guilty last year to driving under the influence, endangering the welfare of children, and driving an unregistered vehicle.
Arvelo was going to move on with his life, the group said.
"That this happened, it just doesn't add up," Rivera said.
Jimmy Cruz said his cousin is an angry guy sometimes, "but he would not aim a gun at a cop. He knows better than that."
Local cases involving the use of deadly force
Prosecutors and state police have investigated
several local cases of uses of deadly force since 2002. In each case - except for Saturday's, which is still being investigated - a DA's office ruled the use of deadly force was justifiable. In some cases, police did not deliver the fatal shot, officials said.
Nov. 13, 2010: Victor Arvelo, 24, of York died after being shot by a York City Police officer. Arvelo committed an armed robbery and then pulled a pistol on an officer who chased him down, state police said. The shooting is under investigation, and the officer has not been identified.
Oct. 24, 2008: Robert Lee, 44, of Harrisburg was shot as he drove a getaway vehicle on Interstate 83 after a West Manchester Township bank robbery earlier that day. State police
Sgt. Charles Mory was justified in the shooting, the Cumberland County District Attorney's Office ruled. Lee steered the Jeep directly at Mory as he tried to evade a roadblock, authorities said. Shots had also been fired from the Jeep during the high-speed chase up the interstate, police said.
Aug. 14, 2008: Paul Lomman, 62, of Newberry Township killed himself moments before he was shot in the neck by a police officer who thought he was under fire during a standoff. Newberry Township Police Officer Michael Bosco's use of deadly force was justifiable, the York County District Attorney's Office ruled.
July 7, 2007: Ronald T. Whitaker Jr., 39, was shot and killed at the Springettsbury Township police station. Whitaker had been arrested after taking money from a grocery store cash register and attacking a patron, police said. Officer Gary D.S. Utter found Whitaker hanging from a holding-cell doorknob by his shoelaces, police said, and revived him. Whitaker attacked Utter, according to court records, and Utter shocked him with a Taser, which had no effect. Whitaker then got a hold of Utter's baton, and was reaching for his gun, when Utter shot him, according to the police investigation. Utter was cleared of wrongdoing, and a federal judge dismissed a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Whitaker's family. A year later, Utter was arrested for drunken driving after he crashed his police cruiser into a wall while on duty. His lawyer said Utter's drinking was triggered by the shooting. Utter, who pleaded guilty to DUI after trying multiple times to get into a pretrial diversionary program, was fired from the department.
Jan. 24, 2007: Antonio Sotomayor, 18, was shot multiple times and died after an undercover drug buy with police. Authorities said Sotomayor fired at a state trooper after the trooper chased him onto East Gas Avenue. While former District Attorney Stan Rebert ruled York Detective Troy Cromer and York Area Regional Officer Trent Buschman were justified in using deadly force, the coroner's office ultimately ruled that Sotomayor accidentally shot himself in the head after being shot in the hand.
March 10, 2005: Hector Manuel Bello Jr., 19, shot and wounded one of six York County Sheriff's Office deputies who were trying to serve a bench warrant at his home at Parkway Homes in York. Police discovered more than $170,000 worth of drugs stashed in Bello's home. Deputy Jose "Tony" Curet was shot in the arm but fired back, killing Bello. Curet was given an award recognizing his bravery.
Sept. 4, 2004: Yvonne Gouseff, 54, was shot in her West Manchester Township home after a more than 10-hour standoff with police. York County Quick Response Team members Tony Fetrow and Roger Nestor each fired one shot at Gouseff, who was hit once. Gouseff's family said she had struggled with alcohol and mental problems. They filed a civil suit about a month after her death that was later settled for $200,000.
Sept. 29, 2003: York County Deputy Mark Chipps shot and killed Raymond Stanley Johnson III after Johnson fired a pellet gun that resembled a 9mm automatic at York County Sheriff's Deputy David Andress. Authorities said Johnson had previously assaulted two people in the 100 block of South Duke Street in York and the deputies responded. Chipps fired his .40-caliber sidearm twice, hitting Johnson in the chest with one shot.
Oct. 12, 2002: Clair Bowen, 35, led police on a chase that ended in a parking lot in West Manchester Township. Bowen fired a shotgun at two officers, West York Patrolman Justin D. Seibel and West Manchester Township Police Officer John Hanuska. The officers fired back, killing Bowen.Read more at www.ydr.com
March 12, 2002: York City Police Officers Brian Lehman and Michael Davis returned fire at Robert Joseph Wise, killing him with a single gunshot wound at the intersection of Jessop Place and Kings Mill Road at the York County Heritage Rail Trail County Park. The officers received a Medal of Valor from the city department for their actions.
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