LAPD Spree Killer had Temporary Protection Order in Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada is frequently in the world news.  Sometimes criminal law or family law stories that get world attention also have some relationship with the Las Vegas Valley.

Recently, Christopher Dorner, the former Los Angeles police officer that was fired from his job several years ago wrote an 11,300-word manifesto and then went on a killing spree—seeking vengeance on those his deluded mind believed wronged him.

In his manifesto, which was mainly about the wrongs of the LAPD, Christopher Dorner made sure to write a paragraph about his experience in Clark County Family Court, the courthouse for Las Vegas and Henderson divorce and child custody cases.  In this particular situation, Mr. Dorner had obtained a Temporary Protection Order against his former girlfriend/wife, claiming she was dangerous.  (Apparently Dorner married a former LAPD officer in Las Vegas, a marriage that lasted maybe three weeks).  When the sitting pro tem commissioner, John Eccles, denied extending the temporary protection order, Christopher Dorner’s warped mind immediately flew to conspiracy theories. 

The following is Dorner’s diatribe against the decision of pro tem commissioner John Eccles:

You allow an officer, XXXX, to attempt to hack into my credit union account and still remain on the job even when Det. XXXX shows the evidence that the IP address (provided by LAPFCU) that attempted to hack into my account and change my username and password leads directly to her residence. You even allow this visibly disgusting looking officer to stay on the job when she perjures (lies) in court (Clark County Family Court) to the judge’s face and denies hacking into my personal credit union online account when I attempted to get my restraint order extended. Det. XXXX provided the evidence and you still do nothing.

Read more at http://ktla.com/2013/02/12/read-christopher-dorners-so-called-manifesto/#FDZBZYVwvJuqpjSj.99

In light of the violence Christopher Dorner committed, which probably include murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, extortion, and kidnapping, it seems that the Temporary Protection Order should have been brought against Christopher Dorner by his ex, instead of the other way around. 

Commissioner John Eccles was clearly correct in recognizing that the Temporary Protection Order filed by Christopher Dorner was illegitimate and was therefore correct in denying extending the Temporary Protection Order, and dissolving it.  It appears that Mr. Dorner’s delusions are transparent to reasonable minded individuals, thus resulting in his own dismissal from the LAPD years ago when he lied about a fellow officer beating a suspect, ending his new marriage, and getting his Temporary Protection Order dismissed by pro-tem commissioner Eccles.

Because of his connection to Las Vegas, the nationwide manhunt against Christopher Dorner was partially focused in the Las Vegas Valley.  There were signs posted on the freeway with Dorner’s smiling face and a million dollar reward leading to his capture. Someone not familiar with the case may have thought this was promotion for a new act on the Las Vegas Strip.

Mr. Dorner's additional unintended victims included friends of mine here in Las Vegas and Henderson.  The police stopped a few of my friends believing they fit Dorner's description.  This goes to show the far-reaching ramifications that crime has in society.  Dorner, like most criminals, probably never concerned himself with misidentification.  My friends that bear passing resemblances to Mr. Dorner still have to be on guard following Dorner's death lest someone does not know he is now passed from the Earth and seeks the million dollar reward. 

My friends can, at least, breathe a little easier now that the manhunt is over.

Anthony M. Wright, JD

February 13, 2013