IT MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL THAT GERALD YOUNGBERG ESCAPED WITH HIS LIFE

GOLD STAR PAROLEE DENIED PAROLE FOR 11TH TIME
By Bob Walsh
　
PACOVILLA Corrections blog
June 19, 2010
　
The name Gerald Youngberg may ring a bell to Paco’s readers who have been around the system a while. He was denied parole again on Wednesday.
　
In 1973 Youngberg was on parole and he was fleeing a crime when he shot and killed San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Lt. Al Steward and CHP Officer Larry Wetterling. He previously shot gas station attendant Robert Jenkins.
　
Youngberg will be up for parole consideration again in 5 years. My guess is he won’t get it.
　
BarkGrowlBite notes:
　
Al Stewart and I not only worked together on a number of narcotics cases, but he was one of my very closest and best friends. Al, who was accompanied by a San Bernardino County deputy DA, was on the way to a narcotics task force meeting in Barstow when he heard about Youngberg’s crime spree on the police radio. He made a quick detour – it turned out to be a fatal one - to help his fellow officers.

Al served as the eighth president of the California Narcotics Officers Association. The Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Award was created by CNOA in 1973 to memorialize Al. It is awarded annually to an individual working narcotic officer for outstanding achievement.
　
Reading Bob’s post has fucked up the rest of this day for me. Al Stewart was one of the really good guys and it makes my blood boil that Youngberg escaped with his life. If that vermin is ever allowed to leave prison in anything other than a pine box, those responsible for his release should be locked up.
　
Here are more details from the Highland Community News:
　
CONVICTED MURDERER OF SHERIFF’S LIEUTENANT DENIED PAROLE
　
Highland Community News
June 17, 2010
　
In March of 1973, Gerald Youngberg murdered Sheriff’s Lieutenant Al Stewart, California Highway Patrol Officer Larry Wetterling and Citizen Robert Jenkins.

On Wednesday, June 16, 2010, Sheriff’s Investigators attended Youngberg’s parole hearing. Gerald Youngberg’s parole was denied and his next hearing has been deferred for five years.

While out of prison and on parole, Youngberg drove along the Interstate 15 Freeway in the Cajon Pass.

Youngberg had broken down with a flat tire in the stolen car he was driving. Youngberg stole this car and a handgun from Las Vegas. He was returning to Las Vegas when his tire went flat. California Highway Patrol Officer Larry Wetterling saw the disabled car on the side of the freeway and stopped to "assist a stranded motorist." This act of kindness would cost Wetterling his life. Youngberg admitted to Wetterling he was on parole, and had a gun in the glove box. Wetterling reached inside the car to remove the gun and a struggle over the gun ensued with Youngberg. During this struggle, Youngberg shot Wetterling. Youngberg then fired two additional rounds into the helpless officer as he lay on the pavement, killing him.

Youngberg attempted to steal passing motorists’ cars in order to flee the scene. He began firing wildly at passing cars in an attempt to overtake one and make his getaway. When this failed, Youngberg took Wetterling’s gun and sped off in the patrol car.

Youngberg lost control of the patrol car and ended up in a ditch. Youngberg then abandoned the car and fled on foot, approaching the nearby Summit Gas Station, where Robert Jenkins was working. Youngberg saw Jenkins on the phone and thought he was calling the police. Youngberg shot Jenkins and stood over him shooting him again execution style.

A short time later, San Bernardino Sheriff’s Lieutenant Al Stewart who was traveling to court to testify in a criminal case with Deputy District Attorney John Hardy, came upon the shooting scene. [Actually Stewart was taking Hardy to a narcotics task force meeting when he turned around after hearing about Youngberg’s crime spree on his police radio.] When Stewart got out of his car to check out the wrecked CHP unit, Youngberg exchanged gunfire with him until the Sheriff’s Lieutenant, wounded, fell to the pavement. Then, Youngberg walked over to the fallen lieutenant and fired another shot killing him. Youngberg then pistol whipped Deputy D.A. Hardy.

To this day, on the anniversary of his untimely death, the Sheriff’s Department recalls and reflects upon Lieutenant Stewart’s heroism and true dedication to public safety and his chosen profession.