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Becerra, Alexis <br /> From: Jackie Angel Investor < <br /> Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 10:14 AM <br /> To: eComment <br /> Cc: Vazquez, Benjamin <br /> Subject: Plaza of the Flags Homicide Report FYI <br /> Attachments: Plaza of the Flags Homicide Report.pdf <br /> -Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana.Use caution when opening attachments or links. <br /> On Monday, August 1, 2016, at 0920 hours, Santa Ana Police Officers, MATTHEW CHITJIAN and DAVID <br /> ENRIQUEZ were working a two man unit assigned to patrol the homeless encampments located at the Civic <br /> Center Plaza. The Officers were driving a marked black and white patrol unit and were dressed in department <br /> approved black polo shirts and jeans. CHITJIAN and ENRIQUEZ were driving their vehicle west bound,just <br /> south of the court house when they observed a male subject, later identified as RICHARD GENE SWIHART <br /> riding a bicycle toward them. CHITJIAN and ENRIQUEZ exited their vehicle to speak with SWIHART. During the <br /> encounter, SWIHART became uncooperative and CHITJIAN and ENRIQUEZ went to place handcuffs on him. A <br /> struggle occurred and the officers and SWIHART went to the ground. While they were trying to place <br /> SWIHART's hands behind his back, ENRIQUEZ yelled to CHITJIAN that SWIHART was grabbing his gun, or <br /> smoothing similar to that, and CHITJIAN fired his weapon twice, striking SWIHART both times in his right side. <br /> Richard Gene Swihart, 32, died as a result of his injuries. <br /> On the morning of Aug. 1, two Santa Ana police officers stopped a homeless man named Richard Gene Swihart <br /> for riding his bicycle in the Civic Center plaza. <br /> A few minutes later, Richard was rushed to a hospital — the officers had shot him multiple times. On Aug. 14, <br /> Richard died of his wounds. <br /> https://www.aclusoca1.org/en/news/biking-while-homeless <br /> 1 <br />