The Riverside County Sheriff's Office said it had launched an internal investigation after CBS Los Angeles saw a deputy on his phone, apparently browsing a dating app, during a confrontation Wednesday.
“This behavior does not reflect our department's standards, expectations or policies,” a sheriff's office spokesperson said. “We have initiated an internal investigation and will take appropriate action based on the findings. The Sheriff's Office remains committed to professionalism and holding our employees accountable.”
The incident occurred during a confrontation with a grand theft suspect. More than an hour into a high-speed chase with the suspect, the sheriff's department failed to deploy a “grappler” net system intended to entangle the car's rear wheels to slow it down.
The suspect lost control and crashed into a wall in Jurupa Valley. Officers then attempted to remove the suspect from the vehicle, including breaking windows and throwing tear gas into the car.
During this standoff, the CBS Los Angeles helicopter spotted an officer a few feet from the crashed car reviewing what appeared to be a woman's dating app profile. He apparently swiped left several times to view other profiles.
The suspect ultimately died at the scene, likely from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
