PERFORATED 55 TIMES DOESN'T PASS THE SMELL TEST

While the three Chippies may have fired an excessive number of rounds, there is no way anyone can convince me that the poor slob was hit 55 times. Even if the officers reacted to a perceived threat to their lives with a shooting frenzy, many shots would have missed him. I also doubt they used rifles. Regardless of what kind of firearms they used, the Chippies would have had to fire hundreds of rounds to hit him 55 times.

FAMILY SAYS CHP SHOT MAN 55 TIMES IN TURLOCK INCIDENT
By Erin Tracy

The Modesto Bee
July 1, 2011

The family of a man shot to death by three California Highway Patrol officers said he was shot 55 times and was unarmed.

Carrick "Eric" Vigen, 37, of Sacramento died June 18, when three CHP officers responded to a report of a suicidal man who was armed. The incident occurred at the Valero gas station at the intersection of Crows Landing Road and West Main Street, about seven miles west of Turlock.

The officers involved were Sgt. Ian Troxell, a 12-year CHP veteran; Jonathan Box, who's been with the agency 3½ years; and Adam Percey, a 2½-year employee, according to Sgt. Anthony Bajaran, a Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department spokesman.

The shooting happened within minutes of officers arriving.

Vigen's mother, Karla Vigen, said he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder five years ago and was in a manic state before the shooting.

She said her son experienced a similar episode in the past and law enforcement was able to calm him and find him help. She assumed her call to 911 in Stanislaus County would produce the same outcome.

Eric Vigen told her he had a gun. She didn't believe him, but she told police he was armed.

"I told them that because I didn't want them to go into a situation not knowing he told me he had a gun," she said.

Eric Vigen's brother, Clint Vigen, said Wednesday that sheriff's investigators met with the family last week and gave details about what happened. He said investigators told him his brother was shot 55 times with semiautomatic rifles.

Clint Vigen previously said his brother told him he wanted to "force a shootout" with police, but he said investigators told him no gun was found on or near his brother.

"I was floored," Clint Vigen said about hearing the news. "I was wondering how many shots it took before they realized he wasn't shooting back."

Representatives from the Sheriff's Department and district attorney's office declined to comment on the case.

Clint Vigen said a private memorial has been scheduled July 10 for Eric Vigen.

Clint Vigen said he and his family appreciate the information the Sheriff's Department has provided, but they would like to hear from a CHP representative.

Officer Eric Parsons, the Modesto CHP spokesman, said Thursday that "we are not going to make any comment until the completion of the investigation by the Sheriff's Department."

"An apology from the CHP would be really nice," Clint Vigen said. "The CHP has had no contact with us to say, 'We are sorry we killed your son … your brother.' This is not about money; this is about an apology, some recognition of our loss."