Police Officer Christopher Farrar
Officer: Chandler Police Department, Police Officer Christopher Farrar
Date: 4/30/2021 Location: Chandler, AZ FACTORS (1,2,8,11)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Jonathon J. Altland Jr.
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Altland had prior convictions for “unlawful means of transportation, drug paraphernalia and unlawful flight from a law enforcement officer.”/Yes, Altland was driving a stolen vehicle at a high rate of speed when initially observed by police.
Mental Illness: None stated.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Yes, Altland has previous drug related arrests./Unknown.
Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/25
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 10:10 p.m. on April 29, 2021, a deputy sheriff attempted to pull over a pickup truck, operated by Jonathon J. Altland Jr. for speeding.
Actions taken by subject toward police: Altland refused to pull over, shot at the deputy’s vehicle striking the windshield and took the deputy and other responding officers on a dangerous chase at high speeds, into oncoming traffic, and even barreling through an airport gate and onto a runway. Eventually crashing near a car dealership, Altland ran inside, threatened the staff there at gunpoint and stole one of the cars. He then drove his second stolen car of the night at the numerous officers that surrounded the dealership, fatally striking Officer Farrar and crashing into a parked vehicle, seriously injuring Gilbert Police Officer Rico Aranda.
Reactions by the police: Officers surrounding the car dealership opened fire on Altland as he drove towards them and their fellow officers. They took Altland into custody and transported him to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
How murdered? Officer Farrar was run over by a violent car thief trying to escape arrest.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? N/A, it was a dangerous and volatile incident, demonstrating how deadly vehicles are when used as weapons and how officers risk their lives to apprehend violent felons.
Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? Officers were using justifiable deadly force in order to stop Altland, however vehicles are not easily nor immediately disabled.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Altland was taken into custody, provided medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and has since been indicted on numerous charges including murder 1st Degree, unlawful flight from law enforcement, burglary 1st Degree, and 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Miscellaneous: This incident, the officer fatality, numerous injuries and 24 charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon proves the justification for officers to shoot at moving vehicles in order to save their lives or the lives of someone else.
