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In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors.
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Man pleads innocent in slaying of Oceanside policeman
Wednesday June 18, 2003
VISTA, Calif. (AP) An Oceanside man with a long criminal
history pleaded innocent Wednesday to charges of murdering a police
officer after a judge ordered dozens of the slain man's colleagues
to disarm before entering the courthouse.
Adrian George Camacho, 28, was arraigned on charges of fatally
shooting Officer Tony Zeppetella during a traffic stop Friday.
Camacho allegedly shot Zeppetella repeatedly as the officer tried
to crawl to safety, then fled in Zeppetella's patrol car.
The officer, who had been on the force 13 months, is survived by
his wife and 6-month-old son.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Richard Mills ordered Camacho
held without bail.
Court records show Camacho pleaded guilty to four felonies
between 1993 and 1999. The charges included drug and weapons
counts, fleeing from a traffic stop, and participation in a
drive-by shooting.
A probation report recommending prison for Camacho when he was
18 described him as ``a committed gang member who poses a serious
threat to the community.''
Several police officers complained to Mills about the ban on
pistols in the courthouse.
``We think what the court did was wrong, but we complied,'' said
Karen McDonough, a spokeswoman for the Oceanside Police Department.
``It strikes us a slap in the face to the professionalism of our
officers.''
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department, which is responsible
for courthouse security, told the Oceanside Police Department
Tuesday that armed officers wouldn't be allowed in the courthouse,
said spokesman Chris Saunders.
Since January 2002, the Superior Court has prohibited law
enforcement officers from carrying weapons in the courthouse.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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