Law Enforcement: Driver faces manslaughter charge in MBPD Chad Swanson crash
by Mark McDermott
Charges have been filed against a man accused of causing the multi-vehicle freeway accident that resulted in the death of Manhattan Beach Police Department Officer Chad Swanson last October.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office last week charged Raymond Eugune Sanders, 69, with a single count of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. A California Highway Patrol investigation found that the crash occurred because Sanders failed to secure boxes of lighting fixtures that subsequently spilled from his truck onto the 405 Freeway.
District Attorney George Gascón announced the charges last Tuesday. The accident, which involved four vehicles and occurred in Carson, took place October 4 last year. Swanson, 35, was on his MBPD motorcycle at 5:15 a.m. on his way to work in Manhattan Beach.
“The life of Officer Swanson, a husband and father of three young children, was tragically cut short. He had honorably served the Manhattan Beach community for 13 years, and his loss is a profound one felt by his family, colleagues, and all who knew him,” Gascón said. “This case is a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of negligence on our roads. Drivers must always remain vigilant and cautious — failure to do so can cost lives. Those who act recklessly and put others in danger will be held accountable.”
Sanders faces a maximum sentence of a year in jail if found guilty of the misdemeanor manslaughter charge. He has been ordered to appear at the Compton Courthouse December 4.
Swanson was a 13 year veteran of MBPD. In remarks immediately made after his passing, MBPD Lt. Kelly Benjamin said Swanson embraced his work as a motorcycle officer, which he began mid career, in 2017.
“He loved riding his motor,” she said. “But most importantly, Chad loved his wife and his three boys. He had an infectious smile, and he was always positive. He was simply a joy to work with every day.”
Swanson’s bravery was legendary both on and off duty.
“Chad was a warrior. He looked danger straight in the eye, and flipped it off,” said MBPD Officer Donovan Torres at a gathering in Swanson’s honor held the week of his death.
“Chad was the ‘breaker’ on our SWAT team. The ‘breaker’ is the guy who gets access for the rest of us. His preferred tool was the battering ram. He always succeeded on the first, or maybe second try. He didn’t want us standing in front of that door longer than necessary. The ram personified Chad.”
“Hailey,” Torres said, addressing Swanson’s wife, “we promise you your sons, Jaimson, Declan and Easton, will know their father. We will keep Chad alive for them.”
In 2016, Swanson was awarded the Medal of Valor for saving the life of a burglary suspect who’d wounded himself breaking a window to gain entry into a bar. Swanson performed life-saving measures even as the injury he was treating gushed blood all over him and his fellow officers.
In 2017, Swanson was in attendance at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas when a shooter opened fire on the audience, firing over 1,000 shots, killing 60, and wounding 413. MBPD records technician Rachel Parker and MBUSD teacher Sandy Casey were among those killed at the festival.
Swanson was among the wounded, suffering shrapnel wounds. Even so, with the shooting still underway and panicked festival goers running out of the venue, Swanson ran further in. He carried several injured fans out of the area, flagged down cars, and helped load the wounded people into the cars. Back inside, he applied tourniquets to gunfire victims.
“I was just focusing on helping everybody I could, taking out as many people as I could, just trying to make sure nobody was left alone,” Swanson said later, at a ceremony outside the MBPD police station.
Mayor Joe Franklin thanked the DA’s office for pursuing the case.
“The loss of Officer Swanson is heartbreaking, not only for his family and his fellow MBPD colleagues but for the entire community of Manhattan Beach,” said Mayor Joe Franklin. “He exemplified the very best of our police force, serving with courage, compassion, and a deep commitment to protecting our City. We are grateful to the District Attorney for pursuing justice in this case, and we stand in solidarity with the Swanson family and the entire Manhattan Beach Police Department during this difficult time.”
MBPD Chief Rachel Johnson said that Swanson is deeply missed.
“Officer Swanson was a beloved member of our police family, and his loss is deeply felt by all who knew him,” said Chief of Police Rachel Johnson. “This has been a trying year for our Department, but we remain committed to honoring his memory by continuing to serve and protect our community. We appreciate the work of the District Attorney and CHP Investigators and the ongoing efforts to ensure justice is served.” ER