HomeMy WebLinkAboutLIFEGUARD THOMAS INTERVIEW INV J. LARSON 21-032545.004_RedactedOTHER PERSON(S) INVOLVED
THOMAS, PAYTON CHARLES, WITNESS
WITNESS
Name: THOMAS, PAYTON CHARLES
:
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DR #: 21-032545
Reporting Area: Homicide
SUPPLEMENT
NARRATIVE
Interview with Payton Charles Thomas
On Saturday, September 25, 2021, Investigator M. Parrish, Detective R. Eidlhuber and I spoke with Payton
Charles Thomas at Lifeguard Headquarters located at 103 Pacific Coast Highway in the City of
Huntington Beach. The interview was conducted reference an officer involved shooting involving officers from
the Huntington Beach Police Department.
The interview was audio recorded with my department issued audio recorder. The following is a synopsis of
the conversation. It is not verbatim, nor necessarily in order of conversation, and is organized for the purpose
of clarity. This report is not meant to take the place of the actual recording. It is just a synopsis. For complete
details refer to the recording of the interview.
At about 1948 hours, we spoke with Thomas in a conference room within Lifeguard Headquarters. Thomas
stated his shift today was from 0700 hours to midnight. Thomas stated he was working as a Marine
Operations Division Lifeguard III on the north side of the pier patrolling the beach in his department issued
Lifeguard truck. Thomas stated about thirty minutes prior to the call of the man down, he received an alert
from his dispatch of a suspicious male in the area of tower fourteen. Thomas stated it was the furthest north
end of the beach and did not believe the male subject involved in the shooting was related to this call. Thomas
stated he responded to the area and did not see anything suspicious in the area.
Thomas stated at about 1500 hours, he was observing a sailboat close to the shoreline which appeared to be
in distress. Thomas told me the sailboat was able to get underway and left the area. He stated about 1515
hours, he was dispatched to a man down on the south side of the pier. Thomas stated while he responded to
the scene he was updated the man down call was related to an officer involved shooting. Thomas stated he
did not know if an officer had been shot or if it was the suspect. Thomas stated he arrived within minutes and
saw a male subject down bleeding. Thomas stated he saw several officers providing medical aid to the
suspect and one of them was providing CPR on the suspect. Thomas stated he exited his truck, put on his
personal protective equipment and grabbed the AED. Thomas ran over and began to do CPR on the suspect
while other medical services arrived. Thomas stated the medical assistance provided consisted of occlusive
bandages in an attempt to stop the bleeding, CPR, AED deployment and an airway was placed in the
suspect’s throat. Thomas stated they performed about four cycles of CPR and the AED cycled through about
four times and never advised to shock the suspect. Thomas stated the suspect was transported via
ambulance about fifteen minutes after he arrived on scene.
I asked Thomas if he heard any gunshots prior to responding the scene and he stated he did not. I asked
Thomas if he saw any weapons when he arrived on scene. Thomas stated initially he did not see any
weapons, but he was advised there was a handgun on scene behind him. Thomas saw the handgun behind
him on the ground as he was leaving the scene. Thomas estimated the handgun was about five feet away on
the suspect’s right hand side.
I asked Thomas if he had any questions related to the investigation or if he had anything else to add to the
interview and he stated he did not. I ended the interview.
End of Report
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DR #: 21-032545
Reporting Area: Homicide
SUPPLEMENT
INVOLVEMENT TYPE OFFICER NAME BODY WORN CAMERA DATE
Supplementing Officer J . Larson 01377 ¨9/27/2021
Approving Officer A . Abdelmuti 05458 ¨10/15/2021
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Printed by Inform RMS System Account on 10/22/2021 08:56
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DR #: 21-032545
Reporting Area: Homicide
SUPPLEMENT