Swat team moves in as retired Judge shoots at Police officers

Hello everyone.  Santiago here.  I woke up this morning to take my wife to LAX as she is on her way to New York for a couple of days. On my way home a bizarre story came on the radio about an incident that took place on Wednesday involving a retired Judge who called 911 to report that there were armed people in his house.

As police arrived, it appears they were able to peek through the window of the house and saw 75-year old, retired judge and former prosecutor James Bascue, seated on a chair with two guns in his lap.

Retired Judge James Bascue pictured here in 1995.

Officers noticed Mr. Bascue picking up the guns then pointing one of the guns to his head.  Officers began to plea with the former judge asking him to drop the weapons. Bascue fired a shot inside of his home and shot out a glass door with the bullet nearly hitting one of the responding officers.  It was at that moment SWAT was called in.

After several attempts to talk Bascue down with friends and family members, it was finally a neighbor who convinced Bascue to drop his guns and come outside.  Although he had fired on police officers, Bascue was taken alive,  arrested on assault with a deadly weapon and held on $100,000 bail.

Bascue retired in 2007 after serving 17 years on the bench.  The LA Times reports that before he was appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian, Bascue was a prosecutor for 16 years with the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. He helped create the district attorney’s office’s Hardcore Gang Division.

My personal thoughts in this matter is that I hope Bascue gets the help he needs.  The police believe that he has a mental issue or was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.   Bascue should be very thankful he is in jail and not in a morgue.  I am surprised that LE did not fire back.