Appellant Larry George participated in at least three armed bank robberies, two of which occurred on the afternoon of the day of his arrest. He was convicted of all three robberies and his convictions were upheld by this court.
This civil rights action under
42 U.S.C. § 1983 resulted from the manner in which the arrest was effected. The facts surrounding George's arrest are set out in detail in
George I. It is sufficient to say here that Long Beach police officers, assisted by a federal agent, had probable cause to believe that George was the robber and that he was in his apartment.
George I, 883 F.2d at 1412. The city officers entered his apartment without a warrant, and without knocking. They saw George in his bedroom and told him to “hold it.” When George moved, however, one of the officers, believing George to be holding a gun, fired a shotgun, striking George in the arm. The arm was ultimately amputated.