US police launch huge manhunt for alleged cop killer

Los Angeles, Feb 8 (AFP) California police launched a massive manhunt for a former cop accused of killing three people, including another officer, and posting chilling threats to kill more. In an Internet manifesto yesterday, threatening police and their families, Christopher Dorner warned about "terminating" a retired policeman he blamed for his sacking five years ago and called lesbians and Asians "high value" targets. The LA Police Department, backed by agencies including the FBI, said it was protecting over 40 possible targets, some of them identified in the "rambling" online manifesto by Dorner, a 33-year-old US Navy reservist. "Dorner is considered to be armed and extremely dangerous," LAPD chief Charlie Beck told a press conference, adding that the suspect has "multiple weapons at his disposal, including assault rifles." "The criminal with whom we are dealing has made it clear that he considers police officers and their families fair game," added Sergio Diaz, police chief in Riverside, east of Los Angeles, where one officer was killed. In a flurry of police action including false alerts, a naval base near San Diego was put on lockdown after a possible sighting and an attempt to steal a boat nearby, prompting speculation Dorner planned to flee by sea to Mexico. Dorner's wallet and an ID badge were found overnight in San Diego, two hours south of Los Angeles, police said, while there also reports of police searches in neighbouring Nevada, where he has a house near Las Vegas. Dorner was already wanted over the suspected revenge killing on Sunday of a couple, Keith Lawrence and Monica Quan, who was the daughter of Randy Quan, a retired police officer he blamed for his firing. Then he allegedly attacked two other officers overnight in Riverside, killing one and injuring the other. Another officer was injured in a separate incident in nearby Corona. In addition, two civilians were injured yesterday when police officers opened fire on them in a vehicle they believed to be Dorner's. "Tragically we believe that this was a case of mistaken identity," said Beck. (AFP) PY 02080356 NNNN