Man shot by police had legal charges pending

Ian Christopher Berrier, the man Huntington Beach police shot and killed Thursday night, had multiple charges prior to his death, according to court files.

Over the past three years, the 20-year-old Huntington Beach resident was involved in five cases, three of which were still active.

Berrier was cited for using his cell phone while driving in 2010, while a charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance was dismissed in 2011.

In the three active cases, he pleaded not guilty to six charges. A pretrial hearing for the cases was set for April 19.

On Nov. 11, Berrier was charged with robbery, being under the influence of a controlled substance and possessing alcohol as a minor.

Then in December he was charged with being in possession of drug paraphernalia and in January was charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance and being in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police shot Berrier after he pulled out what appeared to be a gun, said Huntington Beach Police Lt. Mitch O’Brien.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities later determined the firearm was a “replica semiautomatic pistol.”

A caller told police a man and woman were arguing behind an Italian restaurant before the man, who claimed to have a handgun, threatened the caller, O’Brien said. Authorities later identified the man as Barrier.

Berrier and the woman walked toward a nearby housing tract, where police later confronted him, O’Brien said.

The woman was uninjured and is in police custody.

The officer, whose identity was not released, was uninjured.

anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpio