You’ve got to be kidding.
A man riding a bicycle was killed by an armed robber fleeing from police in Camarillo on Saturday — something which could reasonably be expected to result in a murder charge.
Except the Ventura County medical examiner said it was just an “oopsie.”
You know, big harm, no foul.
While this site was down for the last few days, news broke that the victim was killed, and several other people injured in a separate collision, when they were struck by the robber as he tried to escape the cops in an SUV shortly after 4 pm.
Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies began chasing the alleged robber, identified as 21-year-old Makare Toliver of Lancaster, and his partner after they reportedly stole a gun from a man at the Good Nite Inn on Ventura Boulevard.
Toliver initially yielded to the cops after pausing at a gas station, before taking off again and running down the victim as he rode on Central Ave between Beardsley Road and Santa Clara Ave.
The victim, later identified as 58-year old Ventura resident Robert Pierret, died after being taken to a local hospital.
There’s no word at this time on just how the crash occurred.
Toliver continued without stopping until he crashed into another car, injuring a number of people in that car, and was arrested at gunpoint along with another man.
Fortunately, none of those victims were seriously injured.
Toliver was booked on suspicion of armed robbery, as well as evasion of law enforcement and second-degree murder.
However, the murder charge was dropped after the medical examiner inexplicably ruled Pierret’s death an accident, explaining that traffic deaths are usually considered accidents “unless there is some unusual circumstance.”
Apparently, killing someone while evading police after robbing someone is perfectly normal in Ventura County.
Instead, Toliver was charged with two counts of second degree robbery, evading an officer causing death, fleeing the scene of an accident aausing death, grand theft of a firearm, and assault with a semi-automatic firearm, along with a whopping 21 special allegations.
He pled not guilty Tuesday to all charges.
The other man, also from Lancaster, was released on bail without formal charges.
This is at least the 31st bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fourth that I’m aware this year in Ventura County.
Eleven of those deaths have been hit-and-runs.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Robert Pierret and his loved ones.
Your information is not accurate. The murderer has been charged with 2nd degree murder along with multiple other felonies. Do better reporting.
Sorry for your senseless loss. Hopefully this murdering waste of a human being will go away for a very long time.
I base what I write on what is reported and posted online, as indicated in the links. So if it you feel it is incorrect, I’m afraid your complaint is better registered with KTVA Radio, and the Ventura County District Attorney’s office, which provided a list of charges that do not include murder. If a murder charge has been added, that information was not available at the time I wrote this.
I am very sorry for your loss, and completely understand that you may be angry. However, your anger is better directed at the killer, and if necessary, the DA’s office. I wish you and your family peace and comfort in your memories.
Charges include hit-and-run and evading police, both resulting in death. Those are shown in both links from KTVA and the DA.
I am not understanding why you are acting so defensively here. You are not a victim. Yikes!
The maximum penalty for hit-and-run resulting in death in California is four years, while evading police resulting in death carries a max of ten. Even consecutively, he’s looking at a maximum of 14 years for killing an innocent human being, most likely less, and could be out in less than half that. A 2nd degree murder charge, which is what a crime of this sort would usually carry, is subject to life imprisonment.
So look at it this way. If his gun had accidentally discharged during the commission of a felony, such as evading the police, a 2nd murder charge would be automatic. The only difference here is that the instrument of death was a car instead of a gun.
You’re right, I’m not the victim here. I just give a damn about him.
Here are the details on VC 2800.3(b) https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/defense/vehicle-code/2800-3/ People have non legal definitions of murder. As you know there are many types of “murder” or “homicide” which is the more legally correct term. https://www.robertmhelfend.com/criminal-defense/california-homicide-laws/
Thanks Steve. I understand that. However, from what I’ve seen in previous cases, if the suspect’s gun had unintentionally discharged and killed someone during the commission of a felony, such as evading the police, he would be charged with 2nd degree murder, with a possible life sentence. The only difference I can see is that the instrument of death was a motor vehicle rather than a gun.
Clearly, the CHP agreed, since they originally arrested him on a murder count.
The problem here is that the ME ruled the death accidental, where in other similar cases I’ve seen, the deaths were determined to be the result of foul play. What separates this from a mere traffic collision — not accident, please — is that occurred during the commission of one felony, and as a direct result of another.