Gave Suarez indicted?

[Battleaxe]

It's been confirmed that there is a five count felony Fraud indictment against Gabe Suarez. The California State Special Prosecutor says they have 1500 pages of evidence against Suarez et al (his wife and his business
partner), and while they will entertain a plea, the Prosecutor seems determined that Suarez will do time.
Will be interesting to watch.

[ReserveCop]

Who is Gabe?

[Doc Hudson]

He is a gunwriter. I can't remember what magazines printed his articles.

What are the charges? Are they firearms related? Do they sound legit or is the Prosecutor just trying to bring down a know member of the gun Culture?

Doc Hudson

[M1911]

Mr. Suarez is also a police officer and noted firearms instructor. I believe that at one time he taught at Gunsite under Jeff Cooper.

The rumor that I've heard is that the charges are not firearms related and have nothing to do with Mr. Suarez being a gunwriter and instructor.

M1911

[Usul]

So just what exactly is the charge? Did he sell swampland in Florida or something?

[M1911]

Dunno. What I've read was written by someone who clearly has a conflict with Mr. Suarez and was trying to paint him in a bad light. And that was written prior to any indictment. So I see no reason to propagate those allegations.

M1911

[Double Naught Spy]

Reserve Cop, with all the questions you ask, I figure you would have had a whole folder on someone like Gabe Suarez. He does have many publications and teaches firearms handling. The only publication I have of his is a book called "The Tactical Pistol" with a forward by Jeff Cooper, imagine that.

[EQP]

Battleaxe,

Where did you get your information from? I am scheduled to attend Gabes Tactical Pistol Instructor class in June and am wondering if the class is still going to be held. I would appreciate any info you can point me towards.

TIA,

[LawDog]

It's been confirmed that there is a five count felony Fraud indictment against Gabe Suarez.

By whom?

LawDog

[EQP]

That's my question LawDog! I have only heard good things about Gabe and would like to know exactly what source this came from.

[EQP]

Thanks for the information Erick. Well it sure looks like it's the real deal since they arrested him. Looks like he is going to be tied up with a legal battle for a while to come. Bummer! I was really looking forward to training with him.

Thanks again Erick,

[Clayton Hufford]

Gabe injured his back last year, and has been diagnosed with other serious health problems since then. He has been on a leave of absence due to his disabilities, from his job as a Santa Monica police officer, and he filed a worker's compensation claim. The SMPD is claiming fraud because he was still teaching classes. Gabe, after finding out about his health problems, was going to retire after spending 12 years with the department. He was a highly decorated police officer, an author of numerous articles in gun magazines such as Soldier of Fortune, and has written 4 books. He has taught at numerous tactical shooting schools across the country, and was a student and friend of both Jeff Cooper and Chuck Taylor. Gabe was arrested last Friday by the Santa Monica PD on five felony counts. I believe his wife was arrested as well.

[SKN]

A print media version of the case may be read here:

http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_s..._Continues.htm

[Spectre]

I believe there is a lot of difference between teaching an occasional class and being "tied into" a job as a LEO. If this is the gist of the charge, I wish Gabe well.

[Marty Hayes]

I am appalled with those people who have written Gabe off. First off, if he has been indicted, he has yet to be convicted. The internal workings of a police dept. are very political, and it is just possible that he has been the victim of a political prosecution. This happens all the time in police work, one of the little known, unsavory items about being a cop.

Secondly, you all are the first people to complain about the government and it's intrusion into your civil/constitutional rights. Why not give Gabe and his wife the same respect that you insist on?

Then, there are the nature of the charges. Workman's comp violations? Have you ever fudged on your income taxes? If so, you have committed a felony too, just never been caught. I am not saying he did or didn't do what he is accused of, but let's wait for the trial, okay?


I had Gabe here for a class last October, and have him scheduled here in August. He is remaining on the schedule, and I sincerely hope that he is exonerated in these charges.

Marty Hayes, Director
The Firearms Academy of Seattle, Inc.

[Legionnaire]

Innocent, until proven guilty.

[HeadHunter]

I agree with Marty on this. Especially given the socialist pus-head political bent of that geographical area, who knows how much or little validity there is to the indictment. Many times people are indicted after perfectly legit shootings, so indictments are meaningless as an indication of a person's character.

[cuerno de chivo]

who said he was guilty? he's a 'public figure' in the 'shooting community'. it's on topic to a gun board. gen disc would be a better place for it though.

[Doc Hudson]

It really does not make a difference if Gabe is guilty or innocent (and I figure it is the latter) his career will be ruined and his family will be financially destroyed.

That is the DA office's goal, IMO. Gabe is a well known member of the Gun Culture and is being made an example of. While there might well be some grey area involved, I agree with the person who said there is a vast difference between teaching an ocassional class and being a full time cop, even a full time desk cop.

I wish Gabe well, but I fear he will find victory almost as ruinous as defeat.

Doc Hudson

[Spectre]

I agree. It would appear he's just a handy target to make political capital.

[amalgam]

was he claiming total disability?

was he doing hands-on martial arts/defensive techniques instruction during this period?

or running/jumping/rolling for defensive training or IPSC style shooting?

[gunmart]

i saw him in memphis in oct 2000.he was hurting all the time and could not do many of the things that the students did in the class because of his back.he had to get someone else to do alot of the demos.


i feel bad for him.i am sure its all about politics.

[Double Naught Spy]

In workers' comp fraud type cases or insurance fraud type cases, the person filing usually makes claims as to not being able to accomplish certain types of work because of their conditions (injuries and what have you). The company paying the claims will often hire someone to follow and document the claimer's behavior to see if indeed what has been said is true. The most powerful tool they use is video documentation. My very speculative guess is that claims were made about behaviors that could not be performed and there is documentation of those behaviors being performed or more strenuous behaviors being performed.

[Marty Hayes]

When Gabe was at our place for a class last Oct. he was definately in pain, and in my non-medical opinion, there was no way he could have done the job of a police officer. All he did in class was stand and lecture. No positions, running jumping etc.

My feeling is that if he was making, say, $50K a year as a cop, and supplementing his income with another $50k as a trainer, but then could not do the cop job due to a DUTY INJURY, why the hell does he have to give up the supplemental income if he claims a workman's comp disability?

From my limited understanding of the case, he has a very good chance of acquital. I also believe they went after his wife to pressure him into a plea. Believe me, internal police dept. politics can be very nasty, and this case reeks of it.

[gunmart]

marty are you in memphis?