Hostage Wound May Have Been Caused By Police

By: Margie Miller of Grand Terrace, Publisher/Journalist REDLANDS >> Redlands Chief of Police Mark A. Garcia held a press conference Friday, April 1, to provide an update on the investigation into the March 24 hostage incident at Office Depot that resulted in the death of Andrew Mike, the suspect, and injury to two people, including the hostage. Following are Chief Garcia’s remarks from that press conference. "As you are all aware, last Thursday afternoon, the Redlands Police Department along with officers from agencies including the San Bernardino Police Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and others responded to a hostage incident at the Office Depot that ended in the death of the suspect and injury of his hostage and one other person. Preliminary investigation by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the Redlands Police Department has provided some additional initial information and we wanted to share that preliminary information with you now. Keep in mind that the investigation is still in its initial stages and this information is based on what we know today. The incident began early last Thursday afternoon when the suspect – Andrew Mike – came to victim Kristin Bauer’s workplace. Seeking to avoid a scene, Kristin, who had already told Mike she was ending their relationship, went outside to meet Mike in his car in the parking lot of the Office Depot. As they sat in the car, Mike pulled out a handgun, put it in his mouth and pulled the trigger. The gun didn’t fire. Mike then drove away with Kristin in the car. As he drove around the area, Kristin asked him several times to stop the vehicle and let her out. At one point, while driving, Mike fired his gun toward Kristin, striking the inside passenger door of the moving vehicle. During this time, while still driving Mike also attempted to inject Kristin several times with an unknown substance, but she avoided being hit by the syringe. Eventually Mike returned to Office Depot where the victim got out and went back into the store. Mike followed her in. Inside the store, Mike physically restrained Kristin while holding her at gunpoint. One person was shot in the hand when he tried to assist Kristen. Officers, responding to a 911 call, arrived within two minutes. Mike then forced Kristin through a back door and, seeing the officers, stopped at High Street where he held Kristin at gunpoint for more than two hours while police negotiators talked with him and attempted to get him to release Kristin safely. During this incident Mike made multiple threats to Kristen’s life. Based on Kristen’s statement he threatened her at least eight times. Additionally, Mike conveyed to officers at least 10 times he was ready to die that day. After more than two hours of negotiating with the suspect, Mike made a sudden move, pulling Kristin back as a shield and pushing the gun into her back. At that point, believing the hostage was in imminent danger officers made a split second decision firing multiple rounds at the suspect in an attempt to save Kristen’s life. The rounds fired by the officers struck and killed Mike. At the same time, Kristin was also wounded. When Mike’s weapon was examined, investigators found a cartridge had jammed in the weapon, preventing the weapon from firing. The medical staff that treated Kristin have definitively identified one gunshot wound to Kristin. Preliminary results indicate the shot that caused that wound was fired by police. Eleven officers fired 25 rounds from their weapons. Nine of the officers that fired their weapons are Redlands Police Officers and two of the officers are San Bernardino Police Officers. This morning I spoke with Kristin and her family and informed them of these initial findings. I want to reiterate that this is an ongoing investigation and there are a number of additional details we cannot confirm or address at this point. During this incident, police officers continued to do everything they could to save Kristin Bauer’s life. The suspect had behaved violently, firing his weapon twice and had wounded one person already. For more than two hours officers tried negotiating for a peaceful resolution with the suspect. At the point that police fired, they were acting on the belief that Kristin was going to be killed. After meeting with Kristin again this morning, I am encouraged by her recovery. I pray for her continued recovery, and the Redlands Police Department and I will continue to do all we can to assist her and support her family as she heals. I will now take questions." Robert Schaefer, an accomplished author who lives in Forest Falls, said Kristin's story really affected him because of the emotions it triggered in him, as he has a beautiful daughter similar in age to Kristin. Schaefer said he prayed all night and all day for Kristin's full recovery but he felt compelled to do more. Schaefer has a very strong legal background and knew that insurance would not cover the injuries as a result of the shooting, and he wanted to take action to help. He decided to use his knowledge to set up a foundation for Kristin. All of the money donated to the foundation will help pay for her medical bills and living expenses until she has fully recovered. When asked what she thought of Mr. Schaefer's efforts to help her, Kristin said, "There's no words to say. It's going to help.. it's going to help tremendously." Those interested in contributing to the foundation set up by Mr. Schaefer to help Kristin through her recovery are asked to make checks payable to "The Kristin Bauer Foundation" and mail them to 22797 Barton Road Grand Terrace, CA 92313, or go to www.gofundme.com/HelpKristinBauer.