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Day 23: A shootout at the Cripple Creek Saloon
November 24th, 2009, 2:00 am · 22 Comments · posted by Larry Welborn
1980: John George Brown, a burly biker with a surly disposition, was convicted of killing Garden Grove police officer Donald F. Reed during a wild shootout in June 1980 at the Cripple Creek Saloon.
1980 booking mug
Police spotted Brown’s car outside the tavern and came inside to arrest him on an outstanding warrant.
Brown, also known as Gordon Lee Mink, at first seemed to be cooperating, but then he spun around and started shooting.
Reed, a husband and father of two young sons, was killed.
Another officer and two bar patrons were wounded in the exchange of gunfire.
Brown was convicted and sentenced to death in 1982. But his conviction was reversed on a technicality 17 years later.
He was convicted again in 2000 and is now back on Death Row.
Pictured above: John George Brown. Photo by Leonard Ortiz, The Orange County Register
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30 years ago??? If this murdered police officer had kids, they are in their 30’s now, and has never seen justice.
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dirtbag
Thanks larry for these stories, they are well presented. Im glad this guy was re-tried.
I knew the the officers that were shot - one dead, one wounded terribly in the arm. This piece of human offal should have been shot dead at the scene when they found the coward hiding in the bushes next to the business. Liberalism, the mental disorder, has kept this piece of garbage alive.
Back on “Death Row” ? You mean ” Die of Old Age Row ” don’t you?
A white male with a surly disposition-At least he’s off the streets-Looks like a real sweetheart!
I was there that night and he deserves to die, California do it!
knicknamed “Greasy”
Yet another example of why this country is in the toilet. There is no accountability. Criminals get let out on stupid stuff like a “technicality” then wind right back up in jail. Just kill the guy, save tax dollars. Innocent until proven guilty only goes so far. If you are consistently committing crimes, then you should consistently be shot. I don’t buy the argument about innocent people being accused in error, and here is why. I don’t expect the police department or the law to be 100% perfect. There is no such thing, mistakes can and will happen. Accept it and move on. But seriously if you have a history of being a clown, then you forfeit your right to breathe.
The death penalty is rediculous.
Expedite the process!
Where is/ was the Cripple Creek Saloon? I assume Garden Grove somewhere, since the officer was GGPD, but is so, where in Garden Grove? What is there now?
I wander what became of the officers wife and kids? It is sad that this guy is still on death row for all this time. Where is the justice for the victim and his family? Rest in peace Officer Donald Reed.
his mother must be proud
Twenty-nine years later, and he’s still sitting around, on our dime, looking surly. Our state’s death penalty is a joke that isn’t funny.
Trash like this needs to be burried……immediately!
It’s because the 9th district of appeals here in california (San Francisco) are a bunch of liberals with no spine. They’ve never seen a death sentence they didn’t want to strike down for some pissant reason or another. The are simply disgusting indiviuals. Is there no way to get these asses off the court?
It’s because the 9th district of appeals here in california (San Francisco) are a bunch of liberals with no spine. They’ve never seen a death sentence they didn’t want to strike down for some pissant reason or another. They are simply disgusting indiviuals. Is there no way to get these asses off the court?
It’s because the 9th district of appeals here in california (San Francisco) are a bunch of liberals with no spine. They’ve never seen a death sentence they didn’t want to strike down for some pissant reason or another. They are simply disgusting individuals. Is there no way to get these asses off the court?
What a creep staying alive on the taxpayer’s dollar. He deserves the death penalty!
He should be eligable for early release after serving 50 years, that was the life expentcy back then.
Why this guy isnt dead yet shows how we as a society have no control no matter what we are told. Judged by a jury of your peers?? Really….well his peers said he should die twice now and he still lives. We the people are greatly ignored. Adrian…cripple Creek bar is now the Frat House, a gay bar on Garden Grove Blvd.