Officer Identified In Fatal Shooting Of Alleged Car Thief

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- The Oceanside police motorcycle officer who fatally shot an auto theft suspect in Vista was identified Friday as a 3-and-a-half-year veteran of the force.

Traffic services unit Officer Clint Bussey shot and killed 23-year-old Josue Garcia on Wednesday morning in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 950 Taylor St., OPD Sgt. Leonard Mata said.

An employee of the city water department was monitoring a police radio broadcast on the theft of a PT Cruiser from the 4700 block of Calle Las Positas. The worker spotted the Chrysler on North Santa Fe Drive in Vista about five minutes later and contacted police, Mata said.

Bussey came upon the car as the driver was turning into the parking lot and fired when Garcia drove at him, Mata said.

Garcia, the only occupant of the car, died at the scene, the sergeant said.