Arrest warrant issued in former officer’s shooting of homeless man in Venice Beach: report

Although LAPD regulators declared the shooting unjustified and the then-police chief filed charges, the district attorney’s office declined to file charges in 2018

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of former Los Angeles police officer Clifford Proctor in connection with the 2015 shooting of Brendon Glenn, an unarmed homeless man, in Venice Beach, according to a new report from the Los Angeles Times.

According to The Times, Proctor, who resigned from the LAPD in 2017, is expected to face charges following a years-long reversal of the original decision not to prosecute.

Proctor shot Glenn, 29, on May 5, 2015, during an altercation outside a bar on Windward Avenue in Venice. Proctor and his partner had responded to reports of a disturbance between Glenn and a bouncer. Officials said Proctor fired two shots into Glenn’s back while the two fought on the ground, resulting in Glenn’s death, The Times reported.

Although the LAPD’s civilian oversight board found the shooting unjustified and then-Police Chief Charlie Beck called for a manslaughter charge, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office under Jackie Lacey declined to file charges against Proctor in 2018. Lacey’s office cited a lack of convincing evidence to refute Proctor’s claim that Glenn reached for his partner’s gun during the fight, despite video footage suggesting otherwise.

The decision sparked public outrage and protests and calls for Proctor to be prosecuted. After taking office in 2020, District Attorney George Gascón opened several police shooting cases, including Glenn’s case, as part of a broader effort to hold law enforcement accountable for excessive force.

The arrest warrant for Proctor is the result of years of legal review and a renewed focus on justice for Glenn’s family. V. James DeSimone, an attorney representing Glenn’s relatives, expressed relief at the news and told the Times they have long believed that the officer responsible for Glenn’s death should be held accountable.

Proctor, who has faced unrelated legal problems in recent years, was previously charged with domestic violence in Orange County, a case that resulted in a plea deal. According to the Times, Proctor had not been arrested as of Thursday and it remains unclear when he will appear in court.

The case continues to attract attention, particularly as it comes amid Gascón’s re-election campaign against Nathan Hochman.