Ontario police officer shoots suspect in Murrieta

August 17, 2007 by Bill Gould, Publisher.

Murrieta, California - On Friday, August 17, 2007 at approximately 1:08 P.M., Murrieta Police were notified by undercover Ontario P.D. detectives that they had been involved in an officer involved shooting in the 28200 block of Via Princesa in Murrieta.


Ontario P.D. detectives were conducting a follow up investigation regarding a string of armed robberies, and while doing so, interrupted another robbery in progress committed by the same suspect they were attempting to locate in the shopping center at the southeast corner of Murrieta Hot Springs Rd. and Margarita Rd. The incident resulted in the suspect fleeing from officers and then being shot before he was taken into custody.

The incident began after a surveillance led police officers to the suspect vehicle, a white 2002 Chevrolet Silverado truck, that was parked in the shopping center complex located at 28260 Via Princesa in the city of Murrieta.

At the same time, the primary suspect (identified as 26 year old Grady Paul Pina of Anaheim Hills) was spotted as he exited the passenger side of the truck and committed yet another purse snatch robbery.

Ontario Police officers went into foot and vehicle pursuit of Pina. Pina was shot at least one time by an Ontario police officer during his apprehension and arrest. Pina received a gun shot wound to his right shoulder / arm area and was then taken into custody without further incident.

The victim of the purse snatch robbery, an elderly female Murrieta resident, was not injured during the incident.

Pina who was wanted for a no bail parole violation and robbery arrest warrant was transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital where he was treated for his non-life threatening injury. It is unknown which holding facility he will be booked into after today’s investigation is complete.

Also taken into custody was Pina’s 27 year old accomplice identified as Renee Louise Dobkin of Chino. Dobkin will be booked for robbery charges as well. It is also unknown which holding facility she will be booked into. Dobkin was located in the drivers’ seat of the suspect vehicle and appeared to be Pina’s get away driver. She was taken into custody without incident. Dobkin is believed to have assisted Pina in other robberies during the past two weeks.

Ontario police department detectives, along with Agents and Investigators from the Pomona and Orange Police Departments, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, California Department of Justice and the United States Marshal’s Office have spent the last two weeks conducting follow up investigation in an attempt to identify and locate the suspect(s) responsible for a series of armed robberies and carjackings that have occurred in the San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange County areas. The crimes were committed between August 3, 2007 and August 17, 2007.

Pina, who was believed to be the prime suspect, was considered an armed and dangerous parolee-at-large who not only robbed businesses at gun point, but targeted elderly victims as well. Pina, who was on parole for a prior vehicle theft / carjacking, had been previously arrested by Ontario Police in January of 2002 for an attempted carjacking and in October of 2003 for possession of stolen property.

The Ontario P.D. officer involved in the shooting (who will not be identified at this time) is a 7 year veteran with the department and is currently assigned to the Multiply Enforcement Team. The officer will be placed on 3 days of paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in all officer involved shooting investigations.

The incident will be jointly investigated by the Ontario and Murrieta Police Departments. The findings of the investigation will be forwarded to the Riverside County District Attorneys Office for review.

The investigation into the series of robberies committed by Pina is on going. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Jim Ganley at (951) 461-6361.

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