Suspected killer of police officer formally charged

A career criminal from the Inland Empire was formally charged today with the murder of a Riverside policeman. Earl Ellis Green was arrested last week, just a couple days after allegedly killing officer Ryan Bonaminio.

Authorities say Green gunned down Bonaminio, possibly with the officer’s own weapon, after fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run crash in a stolen truck. Green faces first-degree murder and other charges, with special circumstance allegations that if he’s convicted could send him to death row.

“It is clear from the evidence and several witnesses that officer Bonaminio pleaded for his life before he was murdered,” said Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco at a morning news conference in Riverside.

Investigators linked Green to the murder through a fingerprint match. Investigators also found the officer’s department-issued semiautomatic pistol while searching Green’s house and other locations. Green has spent the better part of the past 20 years in prison for felony convictions ranging from car theft to assaulting a police officer.

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“Any system that allows an individual like this to commit that many felony offenses over that period of time should have been in prison for a much longer period,” said Pacheco.

“And so in my opinion, the system failed to protect officer Ryan Bonaminio and that system needs to be reformed.”

Even though his office filed the special circumstance allegations, Pacheco said prosecutors have not decided if they will seek the death penalty or life without the possibility of parole.

Green’s court appointed defense attorneys are seeking a gag order against Pacheco, apparently in response to remarks Pachecho made about the case at Monday’s news conference. The defense has also asked the court to seal some evidence in the case. Green’s arraignment was postponed until December.

A funeral for Bonaminio will be held Tuesday morning at Grove Community Church in Riverside. The 10 a.m. service will also be streamed online at Memorial Webcasts.