Former Torrance Officer Pleads Guilty to Assault in Shooting Incident

A former Torrance police officer has pleaded guilty to assault in connection with an on-duty shooting that left one man injured. On November 5, 2023, David Chandler Jr., aged 37, entered a plea agreement, admitting to a felony count of assault by an officer. Under the terms of the deal, Chandler is required to complete 100 hours of community service and will relinquish his peace officer certification in California. His case is expected to be dismissed in one year, as confirmed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Chandler was charged in October 2021, stemming from a shooting incident on August 27, 2018, involving Jarvis Goode. Reports indicate that Chandler fired multiple rounds at Goode, who had emerged from his grandmother’s home allegedly holding a knife. Goode was reportedly attempting to walk away from police when the shooting occurred.

During a hearing in August 2023, a judge reviewed body-worn camera footage from both Chandler and another officer not charged in the case. Deputy District Attorney Guy Shirley acknowledged that the initial shots could be interpreted as an attempt to protect Goode’s grandmother, Margo Goode, who was outside at the time. However, he argued that Chandler “continued shooting without lawful necessity” after Goode began to flee.

Chandler’s attorney, Tom Yu, defended his client’s actions, stating that Chandler had merely “about a second and a half” to make a decision, and that Goode was holding the knife in a threatening manner. Margo Goode testified that she had called the police earlier that day after her grandson allegedly broke windows at her home. She described her emotions during the incident, stating, “It scared me to death. It was so traumatizing… I almost got hit.”

The Torrance Police Department confirmed that Chandler is no longer employed with them. This incident is part of a troubling trend; Chandler was the third member of the Torrance police force to face criminal charges in a brief span of time in October 2021.

In a separate case, officers Christopher Tomsic and Cody Weldin pleaded guilty to felony vandalism related to a swastika discovered spray-painted inside an impounded vehicle. They received sentences of two years of probation, were ordered to complete community service and attend anti-racism classes, and were required to surrender their peace officer certifications.

These incidents have raised concerns about the conduct of officers within the Torrance Police Department and have prompted discussions about accountability and community trust in law enforcement practices.