COUNTY DA CLEARS DOWNEY POLICE OFFICER IN MICHAEL NIDA SHOOTING
By The Downey Patriot
DOWNEY – The Downey police officer who shot and killed an unarmed man after he fled from police acted in lawful self-defense and in defense of others, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office announced today.
The DA report, signed by L.A. County District Attorney Steve Cooley, was released almost one year to the day that Michael Nida was killed after fleeing from officers.
The incident began at about 7:13 p.m. on Oct. 22 when a woman was robbed while using the Bank of America ATM at 7878 Imperial Highway. The woman gave conflicting suspect descriptions to police but the initial description included 2-3 black males in plaid shirts driving a white truck or car. The woman reported the men jumped over the fence at a nearby market.
Nida and his wife, Naily, had stopped at the Arco gas station on Paramount Boulevard and Imperial Highway on their way to dinner. As Naily pumped gas, Nida ran across the street to purchase cigarettes, according to the report.
At 7:41 p.m., a Downey police officer stopped Nida for jaywalking after noticing he “looked like a gang member.” Nida was cooperative at first, sitting on the curb and even calling the officer “ma’am”, but then, “suddenly and inexplicably,” ran from Officer Blanca Reyes. He left the corduroy slippers he had been wearing behind.
“I got one running from me across Imperial and to the rear of Walgreens,” Reyes broadcasted.
Nida ran across Imperial and through the Walgreens parking lot. A police officer spotted a male Hispanic – believed to be Nida – in the backyard of a home, hiding behind a fence. Using his cell phone, Nida called his wife, telling her, “The cops are chasing me. I don’t know why. I didn’t do (expletive). I hate cops. I hate cops.” The call was then disconnected.
Nida jumped over a wall where he was confronted by officers Steven Gilley and Michael Powell. They ordered Nida to the ground at gunpoint.
