Four suspects now in custody for Whittier police officer assault

by Antonio Sierra , February 8, 2013

A fourth suspect was arrested February 6^th for the January 24^th robbery and assault of an off-duty police officer in Whittier. 20-year-old Bernice Munoz of Paramount joined three other suspects who had previously been arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department after being located in Yorba Linda .

Bernice Munoz was the latest arrest, joining her three accomplices.

On the afternoon of January 24^th, 22-year-old Andrew Rashad Gatlin, 28-year-old Art Anthony Wibberding of Long Beach, 22-year-old Terrence Davion Collins, and Munoz approached the residence of the off-duty cop on the 5200 block of Pioneer Boulevard. One of the suspects broke into the house and confronted the police officer before stabbing him multiple times and fleeing in an “occupied getaway vehicle,” according to a press release put out by the Whittier Police Department.

On January 31^st, Whittier Police learned that suspects had recently been arrested by the Orange County Sheriffs that matched the description of Gatlin, Wibberding, and Collins. After further investigation, authorities determined that the three suspects were responsible for the burglary and stabbing of the off-duty police officer. In addition to the four suspects in custody, police were also able to locate the vehicle used during the incident.

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has charged all four suspects with Attempted Murder, Robbery, Kidnapping to commit Robbery, and Burglary. Munoz is currently incarcerated at the Whittier Police Department Jail while the male suspects are in the process of being transported from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. All are being held on $2.2 million bail.