Police Wednesday released a summary of their investigation of the Lorenzo Collins shooting. It closely follows information that was provided to city council last month:

The Internal Investigations Unit has conducted an investigation into the shots fired which took effect on Mr. Lorenzo Collins. Mr. Collins was a black male, age 25, 6ï feet tall, weighing 272 pounds. This incident occurred at 3:58.40 p.m. on Feb. 23, 1997, at 237 East Rochelle Ave.

Mr. Collins was arrested on Feb. 22, 1997, by the Springdale Police Department for felony theft. While in custody, Mr. Collins displayed erratic behavior. The Springdale Police transported Mr. Collins to University Hospital for psychiatric evaluation. Mr. Collins was admitted to the 8th floor (a secured area) of University Hospital. Springdale Police signed a state mental hold and placed a "police hold" on Mr. Collins relating to the criminal charge.

On Feb. 23, 1997, at 3:47 p.m., Mr. Collins escaped from the secured psychiatric ward and fled through University Hospital. University of Cincinnati Police (UC) began a pursuit of Mr. Collins. When the pursuit left hospital grounds, UC police broadcast on Cincinnati Police (CPD) radio Channel 4 the "escape of a police hold." At approximately 3:54.50 p.m. CPD officers joined the foot pursuit of Mr. Collins. CPD officers were only aware that Mr. Collins was wanted on a police hold. CPD officers were never advised of the nature of the police hold.

The foot pursuit proceeded from the hospital through the parking garage crossing Piedmont, then through the parking lot jumping a 6-foot steel fence and then crossing Martin Luther King. Mr. Collins continued south on Bellevue and then east on Stetson. At 235 Stetson Mr. Collins dropped over a 10-foot fence running across East Rochelle to Donahue and then back to the rear of 237 East Rochelle.

While running from the police, Mr. Collins picked up a standard construction brick (7ó inches long, 3î inches wide and 2ì inches thick, weighing 3ï pounds) laying in the rear of 237 E. Rochelle. Mr. Collins threatened to strike the officers with the brick. Both UC and CPD officers issued in excess of 10 verbal commands to drop the brick. Five attempts by four officers were made to apply chemical irritant which had no effect on Mr. Collins. A taser and a canine (K-9) were requested by the officers.

The officers attempted to keep Mr. Collins at bay in the yard until the taser, canine and supervisor arrived. Mr. Collins's escape attempts were thwarted by containment positioning of the officers. Mr. Collins raised the brick over his head and gestured as if to strike the officers. "You're going to have to kill me." Four shots were fired by police, three of which took effect.

Following are the investigative findings and witness statements relating to this incident.

Initial involvement by CPD :

Date of occurance: 2/23/97

3:53.20 p.m. - Officer Greiner, University of Cincinnati Police Dept. (UCPD), broadcasts on city radio Channel 4, "escape of police hold."

Cincinnati Police Division (CPD) officers were never advised by UCPD that Mr. Collins was escaping from Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES).

Description given is: black male, wearing "pajama bottoms" and "brown shirt."

City officers begin responding for foot pursuit of Mr. Collins

3:54.00 p.m. CPD cars 4235, 4225, 4211, and 4283 indicate they are responding.

UCPD Officer Greiner (Car 9062) advises Mr. Collins is now running south on Bellevue from Martin Luther King Drive (MLK) toward Stetson. 3:54.50 p.m. CPD Car 4220 requests information on the charges and the reason for the foot pursuit.

Foot pursuit of Mr. Collins

3:54.50 p.m. UCPO Greiner responds to 4220 indicating Mr. Collins had a police hold from Springdale, but he does not know what the charges are.

3:55.10 p.m. CPD 4235 (PO Depodesta) broadcasts that the suspect was last seen at 235 Stetson going through the parking lot.

3:55.30 p.m. CPD car 4220 directs Communications to contact Springdale to determine nature of charges and requests a Canine Unit (K-9) respond to the area.

3:55.50 p.m. CPD PO Depodesta indicates Mr. Collins is "cornered" at 235 Stetson and requests another car. Car 4283 arrives on the scene.

PO Depodesta requests nature of police hold on Mr. Collins. Communications advises they are trying to "contact Springdale now."

3:56.30 p.m. PO Depodesta asks if a K-9 is working. K-9 car 8114 (PO Upchurch) advises he is enroute.

Multiple officers indicate, "He's (Mr. Collins) headed toward Bellevue, make that Rochelle."

Foot pursuit ends at 3:57.20 p.m.

3:56.50 p.m. dispatcher asks if subject is in custody. Unknown CPD officer advises "negative" and then states, "He's headed toward East University."

3:57.20 p.m. unknown officer states, "Subject has a brick in his hand."

3:57.40 p.m. unknown officers broadcast "Drop the brick. Drop it. Drop the brick." 4211 (PO Hayes) also orders Mr. Collins to, "Drop the brick now."

Police close in on Mr. Collins

3:57.40 p.m. unknown CPD officer, "Subject has a brick in his hands." Several CPD officers yelling "Drop the brick, drop the brick now!"

3:57.40 p.m. CPD 4211 (PO Hayes) orders Mr. Collins to "Drop the brick now." Dispatcher asks for location. PO Depodesta states, "One street south. . .drop the brick."

Dispatcher asks for location again. PO Depodesta states, "One street south of Stetson, at 235. In the rear yard we need a Taser now." Dispatcher acknowledges.

3:58.10 p.m. PO Depodesta again requests a Taser.

Police involved shooting of Mr. Collins at 3:58.40 p.m.

3:58.40 p.m. CPD Car 4235 (PO Depodesta) again requests a Taser. Car 4240 (Sgt. Broxterman) advises he is responding.

3:58.40 p.m. CPD Car 4235 advises shots fired and requests an ambulance and a supervisor.

Critical incidents overview

Original broadcast by UCPD 3:53.20 p.m. hours on police Channel 4 by UC.

Notice of shots fired by police at 3:58.40 p.m.

Elapsed time: 5 minutes, 20 seconds.

Elapsed Time of events on East Rochelle

Mr. Collins enters yard at 3:57.20 p.m.

Situation is very fluid.

Officers begin containment efforts.

Report of shots fired at 3:58.40 p.m.

Elapsed time: 1 minute, 20 seconds.

Route of Foot Pursuit

Begins in the main lobby of University Hospital, proceeds through Emergency Room (ER).

South out of the ER lobby into the parking garage.

Through the parking garage across Piedmont, continuing south. Through the parking lot, jumping a six-foot high wire fence and still south across MLK.

From MLK south onto Bellevue.

East on Stetson.

To 235 Stetson over the ten-foot wall, across Rochelle to Donahue, back to rear of 237 East Rochelle.

Investigation of shooting

Interviews conducted to date: 121 total.

Reviewed Coroner's report.

Diagrams of the scene.

Aerial photographs of the scene.

Reviewed officers' training records.

Consulted with the prosecutor.

Reviewed medical records.

Reviewed MDTs and dispatches.

Reviewed Homicide report.

Breakdown of interviews

Total interviews: 121

40 Law Enforcement: 15 - on scene at time of shooting.

81 Civilians - of those:

53 saw or heard nothing

28 corroborate officers' account in some form.

Of those 28, four offer different scenarios.

Officers on the scene at the time of shooting

Fifteen officers were at the scene when the shots were fired.

Five from UC.

Ten from CPD.

Investigative findings - ballistics information

Mr. Collins was struck three times as follows:

Gunshot wound to left lower abdomen; part of projectile lodged in left lower hip, fragment exited left buttocks. Shot fired by PO Depodesta.

Penetrating gunshot wound of the shaft of penis, scrotum and right thigh. Shot fired by PO Engel.

Perforating gunshot wound to the superior, dorsal side of the right shoulder with a laceration of the right subclavian vein (exited right nipple). Shot fired by PO Depodesta.

Two 9mm bullets were recovered from Mr. Collins' body by the coroner.

One 9mm bullet and two empty shell casings were recovered at the scene by CIS (Editor's note: Criminal Investigation Section).

A .22-caliber bullet, self-inflicted during a previous incident, found near the spinal column of Mr. Collins.

Pre-incident history: Lorenzo Collins

12-6-96 Mr. Collins threatened to kill his family. Mr. Collins injured his head by striking it against a wall. He was arrested and taken to University Hospital. State mental hold and police hold placed.

12-7-96 Mr. Collins escapes from University Hospital.

12-20-96 Mr. Collins was the victim of an assault. Taken to University Hospital by CPD.

12-24-96 transferred from Bethesda Emergency to University for evaluation of homicidal and suicidal tendencies. Mr. Collins was choking his brother during an argument about money.

1-2-97 taken to University Hospital having hallucinations. Mr. Collins stated he felt like hurting himself and others.

1-3-97 Mr. Collins is listed as AWOL from University Hospital.

1-27-97 taken to University Hospital by CPD for stab wounds to his left shoulder.

2-9-97 transported by police for cocaine induced psychotic disorders. States he felt like harming himself and others.

2-22-97 Mr. Collins is admitted to University Hospital PES. Arrested by Springdale for felony theft; displayed erratic behavior, disrobing himself during booking process.

2-23-97 Mr. Collins escaped from University Hospital.

23 local police contacts with Mr. Collins

7-30-90 Open flask.

8-1-90 D.C. (editor's note: disorderly conduct) risk of harm, gambling.

8-7-90 Resisting arrest, assault.

10-18-90 Robbery, agg. burglary-(harm).

5-30-91 Counterfeit controlled substance.

7-2-91 Possession of drug paraphernalia, drug abuse.

8-6-91 Criminal trespass.

3-12-92 Assault victim harmed.

8-1-92 Theft under $300.

2-6-93 Drug abuse, trafficking in cocaine.

7-4-93 Falsification.

2-17-94 Resisting arrest, trafficking in cocaine.

5-30-95 Counterfeit controlled substance.

10-31-95 Theft under.

11-9-95 Possession of marihuana (sic).

5-31-96 Robbery.

6-12-96 Aggravated robbery (armed).

6-20-96 Counterfeit controlled substance.

12-6-96 Drug abuse schedule I.

1-15-97 Theft, escape, drug abuse.

1-27-97 Drug abuse.

2-11-97 Felony theft.

2-22-97 Released from Hamilton County Justice Center (within 4 hours Mr. Collins was re-arrested and found to have cocaine in his bloodstream).

Conviction ratio for Mr. Collins

Arrests Convictions Felony: 19 3 Misdemeanor: 15 12

Mr. Collins' drug usage history

12-20-96-Tested positive for cocaine.

12-24-96-Tested positive for cocaine.

1-2-97-Admitted to using $100 worth of cocaine.

1-27-97-Arrested for possession of cocaine.

2-9-97-Tested positive for cocaine.

2-23-97-Tested positive for cocaine.

Personnel profile of P.O. Douglas Depodesta

White male, age 24, 5'8'', 165 lbs.

Two years ten months street experience.

Assignments: D1 & D4 (editor's note: District 1 and District 4). Education: Graduate of Ferris State 1993.

Major: criminal justice.

Employee profile of P.O. Douglas Depodesta

1 Use of Force 96324-8-19-96 justified.

7 Chemical irritant from 5-28-95-12-3-96.

(Editor's note: The following items refer to internal investigations of alleged misconduct. There was not enough evidence to support a 1995 discourtesy complaint and he was cleared of two similar complaints in 1996.)

95133 Discourtesy-Not sustained.

96160 Discourtesy-Exonerated.

96356 Discourtesy-Exonerated.

Death in custody (positional asphyxia) of Mr. Darryle C. Price-IIU Case number 96147-Exonerated.

NO CRIME FOUND IN COLLINS KILLING
DIAGRAM OF THE SHOOTING SCENE

Previous stories

NINE MINUTES OF CONFUSION: THE SHOOTING OF LORENZO COLLINS May 27, 1997
DIAGRAM RECONSTRUCTING THE EVENTS May 27, 1997
TRAINING, POLICIES AND POLICE ACTION May 27, 1997
WHY DID THE COPS KILL LORENZO? Peter Bronson column, May 25, 1997
BORGMAN CARTOON May 25, 1997
PUSH FOR POLICE REVIEW FEARED May 9, 1997
FBI TO REVIEW COLLINS CASE May 8, 1997
MARCHERS VOW SEASON OF DISRUPTIONS May 5, 1997
PROSECUTORS GET REPORT ON FATAL SHOOTING April 29, 1997
SHOOTING PROTESTERS ALLEGE POLICE BRUTALITY April 17, 1997
DEMONSTRATORS CITE SHOOTING OF MENTAL PATIENT March 24, 1997
BAPTIST MINISTERS PROTEST AGAINST POLICE March 20, 1997
LAWSUIT SEEKS $5 MILLION March 13, 1997
PUNISH POLICE, MARCHERS URGE March 5, 1997
FATAL SHOOTING CONCERNS COMMUNITY March 2, 1997
PROBE: POLICE FIRED FOUR SHOTS AT MAN WITH BRICK Feb. 25, 1997
MAN SHOT BY POLICE AFTER CHASE Feb. 24, 1997