Oceanside CA— This morning, October 27, 2016, just before 9:00am, Jose Compre (DOB 08/28/1990) was arrested for the 2006 homicide of Officer Dan Bessant. New information was brought to light which launched this current investigation.
On December 20, 2006, Officer Dan Bessant, 25, was shot after he responded to assist another officer on a traffic stop. An officer had requested back up during a traffic stop near the 500 block of Arthur Avenue, close to Gold Drive in Oceanside. Officer Bessant responded and was shot from behind by a person who was not a part of the traffic stop. The shot struck Officer Bessant under his arm in an area not covered by his bullet resistant vest. Officer Bessant was flown to Scripps Memorial Hospital, where he died from the injury.
Two teenage suspects were arrested and charged with Officer Bessant’s murder. One of them was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in November 2009. Jose Compre was also arrested, however at the preliminary hearing in 2008, the charges were dismissed against him. Compre is a current resident of the City of Oceanside
Officer Bessant had been an officer with the Oceanside Police Department for three years and had worked in an unsworn position for three years prior to that. In 2013, the bridge on Pacific Street that connects to Oceanside Harbor was named in his honor.
We will have more information when it released on Monday.