Arlington PD Releases Video from OIS Incident on N. Collins Street
The Arlington Police Department has released relevant portions of body-worn camera and surveillance footage from an officer-involved shooting incident that occurred on November 27, 2024 at a motel in the 900 block of N. Collins Street.
Members of the public can view the video on the department's YouTube channel by clicking here.
Due to age restriction settings on YouTube, you may be required to sign into the site to view the video.
At approximately 12:23 that morning, officers were dispatched to a Criminal Mischief call at a shopping center in the 900 block of N. Collins Street. The 911 caller reported that an unknown man was outside kicking trash cans and throwing items. Officers searched the area for the man, but could not find him. The call was cleared at 12:41 a.m.
At approximately 1:03 a.m., a second 911 call was placed from the same area, this time from a neighboring motel. This caller reported that an unknown man was banging on multiple doors in the motel and causing a disturbance.
Investigators have since determined both calls involved the same individual, 34-year-old Edgar Ayala Garcia.
Surveillance cameras captured Mr. Garcia in the parking lot of the motel while officers were working the call at the shopping center. Video shows him appearing to duck behind a parked vehicle as a patrol car passed by the motel. Mr. Garcia then walked to a back door at the motel and attempted to gain entry by hitting the door with a brick-like object. Unsuccessful, he went to another door and began kicking it. A guest at the motel heard the noise, went to the door, and let Mr. Garcia inside.
Once inside, Mr. Garcia made his way up to the third floor where he was seen kicking multiple motel room doors. A guest in one of the rooms opened his door to investigate and Mr. Garcia forced his way inside. Mr. Garcia displayed a knife and the two men got into a physical struggle.
As this was occurring, two APD officers arrived at the motel in response to the 911 call. They went to the third floor and could hear the guest yelling for help from inside his room. The officers announced themselves as police and attempted to kick open the door. Moments later, the guest opened the door still trying to fend off Mr. Garcia. The guest was bleeding and had cuts on his arm.
The officers gave Mr. Garcia multiple commands to drop the knife, but he did not comply. Both officers then fired their service weapons multiple times, striking Mr. Garcia. The guest made it safely out of the room.
Following the shooting, officers provided aid to Mr. Garcia until paramedics arrived. He was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
The motel guest was also transported to the hospital where he was treated by doctors and released. No officers were injured during the incident.
Detectives have determined the two men did not know each other and the attack by Mr. Garcia appears to be random.
Both the criminal and administrative investigations into this incident remain ongoing.
Per department policy, both officers were placed on administrative leave following the shooting, but have since returned to work.
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