Two men involved in an armed standoff with Burbank police were identified as brothers Wednesday, a day after one of them was fatally stunned by a police Taser, police said Wednesday.
Thomas Wayne Binkley, 66, was hit by the Taser after police responded to a report of ‘terrorist or criminal threats” shortly after 6 p.m. at a home in the 500 block of N. Mariposa St. in Burbank.
When they arrived, officers were speaking to a woman who said her ex-father-in-law – Thomas Binkley – had gone to her home and threatened her life, Losacco said. Two officers spoke to Thomas Binkley outside of the home about the threats, and he became “verbally confrontational and eventually physically assaulted the officers,” who have worked for more than six years at the Burbank Police Department, Sgt. Claudio Losacco said.
After being struck, Losacco said, an officer deployed a Taser that subdued Thomas Binkley as he went to the ground. His brother, Steve Binkley, allegedly came to the door and threatened the officers while holding a handgun, Losacco said. The action caused officers to retreat from the area, leaving him on the ground.
What followed, police said, was about a 40-minute barricade situation with Steve Binkley. Officers formed a team with a shield and approached Thomas Binkley in front of the home, where paramedics treated him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Initially, Losacco said, Thomas Binkley was breathing after the incident. But at some point before he was taken from the location he stopped breathing. Steve Binkley’s actions delayed paramedics’ response time to help Thomas Binkley, Losacco said.
Steve Binkley voluntarily left the home without incident after 40 minutes. He was arrested on suspicion of threatening a public officer and was in Burbank City Jail on $25,000 bail. He was due to appear in court on Friday morning, Losacco said.
On Wednesday, police said during a search of the home they found a handgun they believed was used in the incident, Losacco said.
At a news conference at the Burbank Police Department, Losacco said Wednesday he “was not saying” the Taser contributed to Thomas Brinkley’s death. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office will conduct a toxicology report and determine the ultimate cause of death.
Losacco said this was the first time the use of a Taser on a person has ended in death, Losacco said. An elderly woman and a caretaker were inside the home during the incident and they were interviewed but not charged.
Losacco said the investigation could take months before submitted for an investigative review.
Losacco was not aware of any specific conflict between the brothers but it was “obvious” a poor relationship between the duo could have played a part. That will be part of the ongoing investigation, he said.
