Christopher Dorner Manhunt

The man who was carjacked by cop killer Christopher Dorner hours before he was cornered in a cabin ... is suing the city of L.A. for the $1 million reward it offered to the public, but then pulled back over a loophole ... TMZ has learned.

In the lawsuit, filed today in LA, Richard Heltebrake describes how Dorner pulled a gun on him on Feb. 12, took his truck and then used it during a shootout with law enforcement. Dorner eventually ditched the truck before fleeing to the cabin where he died.

Heltebrake says once he was free he used his cell phone to call the San Bernardino Co. Sheriff to report the carjacking and Dorner's location.

Heltebrake believes he's owed, and indeed filed for, a ton of reward money that was offered -- $1 million from the city of L.A., $100k from Riverside County, and $100k each from the cities of Riverside and Irvine.

Three of those rewards were for "information leading to the apprehension and capture" of Dorner. Another was for "identification and apprehension."

The language is important because Dorner was not apprehended or captured -- but instead police say he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the burning cabin.

As TMZ first reported, L.A. officials were hesitant to pay up -- and in the suit, Heltebrake claims all the municipalities denied him any money.

Now this is special ... Dead cop-killer Christopher Dorner's .38 Special is up for auction.

Dorner got a piddly fifty bucks for the well-worn revolver (pictured above) at Bargain Pawn in January, a month before his killing spree touched off one of the largest manhunts in LAPD history.

The North Las Vegas pawn shop started its online auction Tuesday evening ... so far it's up to $455 with 15 bids. A permit and photo of Dorner in the shop prove it was his.

The owners tell TMZ they have only good intentions -- the listing calls Dorner a "coward and murderer." They're donating the proceeds of the auction to the families of Riverside police officer Michael Crain and San Bernardino Det. Jeremiah MacKay ... who both left behind kids.

The elderly couple tied up at gunpoint by a rampaging, cop-killing Christopher Dorner waited nearly 20 minutes for cops to arrive to their Big Bear cabin after calling 911 -- despite the fact they were across from the cops' weekend command center.

During the Feb. 12 call, Karen and Jim Reynolds positively ID'd Dorner as the man who tied them up ... giving the first real clue to the maniac's location in the midst of a nationwide manhunt.

Karen was still tied up when she managed to use a cell phone just minutes after Dorner split in the couple's SUV. She was uncannily calm ... at first ... especially given that the rampaging disgruntled ex-cop had just threatened them with a rifle, bound their hands, gagged them, put pillowcases on their heads and jacked their car.

But she starts to crack just five minutes in: "Are you sure someone's coming here?" she asks the dispatcher.

"I'm sure someone's going -- we have several units going out there ma'am," the dispatcher says, apologetically.

A few minutes later, Karen Reynolds seems irritated when she mentions that they are "right across from where the command center was all weekend."

Their ordeal goes on and on ... and on ... including a moment when Karen, still bound, falls to the ground and cries out in pain.

We told you this was gonna happen ... some of the folks who offered a reward for the capture of cop killer Christopher Dorner have wussed out on a technicality.

We did the first story ... that the reward was for the arrest and conviction of the former LAPD cop. Since Dorner killed himself rather than surrender, the conditions were not met, although there's absolutely no doubt several citizens were instrumental in surrounding the cabin where he was holed up.

The Riverside City Council -- which offered $100,000 - has just announced it will not ante up to anyone.

Other local governments have offered additional rewards totaling more than $1 million. The jury is out on whether they'll do the right thing or follow Riverside's lead.

LL Cool J must know he bears a striking resemblance to accused killer Christopher Dorner, but he wants NO PART of a movie about Dorner ... at least not yet.

Outside Katsuya in Hollywood last night, we asked the Grammy host/rapper/"NCIS: Los Angeles" star about possibly doing a biopic, but he quickly nixed the idea.

LL told us, "That's not even something to really talk about because there are families that suffered, people that died. And because of that, I think it would be disrespectful to them to ... have this conversation about a film when people's lives were on the line."

Always classy.

Christopher Dorner's badly scorched, partially dismembered body was photographed after his death ... and TMZ has learned the pics are now being shopped to the media.

TMZ has seen the photos (the sellers showed up to our doorstep) -- and the shots are extremely gruesome.

The top of Dorner's head is gone ... presumably the result of the self-inflicted gunshot wound that ended his life after the gun battle at a remote cabin in Big Bear, CA last week.

The body is missing several limbs ... including an arm and parts of a leg ... and his midsection is charred from the fire that consumed the cabin during the Feb. 12 shoot-out.

In fact, Dorner's upper teeth were barely damaged ... which helped authorities ID the body.

It's usually an HONOR to be named one of the most beautiful people in the world ... unless the person doing the naming is a scumbag cop killer ... this according to Michelle Rodriguez.

The "Fast & Furious 6" star was walking around Venice Beach this weekend when our photog asked what she thought about being mentioned by name in Christopher Dorner's rambling manifesto as one of "THE MOST beautiful women on this planet, period."

Rodriguez responded, "No man, is that that killer dude?"

Of course, Dorner was the subject of a statewide manhunt after allegedly killing 3 people, including a cop. He killed a 4th person during the final shootout in Big Bear, CA last week. Dorner also died in the firefight.

As for the mention in the manifesto ... M-Rod told us, "I'm not so sure if I'm too keen on that," adding ... "Not like I'd like to be a killer's favorite person."

Rodriguez wasn't the only celebrity mentioned in Dorner's bizarre statement ... he also gave a shout-out to Charlie Sheen, Tim Tebow, Anthony Bourdain, Larry David and Lisa Lampanelli.

"That's So Raven" star Rondell Sheridan breathed a HUGE sigh of relief when he found out Christopher Dorner was dead ... 'cause they look so much alike, Rondell says he was legitimately scared to go out in public.

Rondell -- who played Raven Symone's dad on the Disney sitcom -- tells TMZ ... ever since the manhunt for Dorner began, he noticed people were giving him strange looks in public ... the kind of looks that say, "I could get a reward if I capture this dude."

"Honestly I know it’s nothing to laugh about, but I will admit I was a little nervous flying to LAX last Sunday, " Sheridan says.

"I was like 'Are people checking me out cause I was on [TV], or cause I look like that guy everybody’s looking for?'"

Rondell says the confusion got so bad, people notified him about an "RIP Chris Dorner" Facebook page that mistakenly featured the actor's photo.

Still, Rondell says he would jump at the chance to star as Dorner in the inevitable movie ... "But with my luck they'll give it to LL Cool J."

Christopher Dorner is dead ... officially ... now that officials say they have POSITIVELY identified the killer's remains.

The San Bernardino Sheriff's Dept. released a statement saying, "The charred human remains located in the burned out cabin in Seven Oaks have been positively identified to be that of Christopher Dorner."

Officials say he was identified through dental records.

Dorner died in a remote cabin in Big Bear, CA -- where he engaged police in an intense gun battle. Dorner shot and killed one cop in the firefight and wounded another.

Anthony Anderson isn't afraid to play a psychotic cop killer in a movie -- telling TMZ, he'd happily accept the role of Christopher Dorner in a film about the accused murderer's life ... as long as the script is good.

Anderson was leaving Mastro's Tuesday night alongside Don Cheadle and the vaporizer-carrying George Lopez when our photog asked if he'd be open to the role ... given Anderson's resemblance.

Anderson replied, "I'm always up for a good role, brother."

So ... you buyin' it? Our vote's still for LL Cool J.

Several private citizens were instrumental in cornering cop killer Christopher Dorner ... but there may be a gigantic loophole preventing any of them from collecting the loot.

There are 3 rewards. The Mayor of L.A. announced a $1 million reward -- funded by private groups -- for information leading to the "capture and conviction" of Dorner. Big problem -- technically speaking, Dorner must be both captured AND convicted to trigger the reward.

The L.A. City Council offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to "the identification, apprehension, and conviction" of Dorner. Again ... no conviction. City Council sources tell us there's already a disagreement between the Legislative Analyst and the City Attorney over how to interpret the reward language.

The LAPD says it has moved back into a "normal state of police operation" after the gun fight in Big Bear last night ... which means they believe the body inside the burnt-out cabin belongs to Christopher Dorner.

Of course, cops won't officially confirm the body belongs to Dorner until the tests are run on the badly burned corpse ... but the move by the LAPD suggests they're pretty damn sure it was Dorner.

A rep for the police department says the city of L.A. is no longer on tactical alert.

Dorner met his fate following a frightening shootout with cops in a remote cabin in Big Bear. The cabin was set ablaze and Dorner's body is believed to have been badly burned in the inferno.

8:20 PM -- The LAPD held a news conference and said no body has been pulled out of the scorched cabin yet ... as it is still too hot to enter.

Law enforcement sources directly connected to the case tell TMZ a body was found inside a Big Bear cabin, and they are all but certain it is Christopher Dorner -- who earlier engaged police in a gunfight before the cabin went up in flames.

We're told positive identification may take a while because the body was badly burned, but our sources are convinced they have their man.

Cops had cornered Dorner in the remote cabin ... after reports came in that he robbed a nearby home, tied up the couple living inside and fled in a white Dodge pickup truck.

A state Fish & Game ranger fired on the vehicle, and cops closed in soon after -- resulting in a violent standoff ... during which tons of shots were fired, hitting two San Bernardino County deputies ... one of whom died at the hospital.

At this point, it's unclear how exactly Dorner died. Cops reportedly heard a single gunshot around the time the cabin ignited ... indicating Dorner might have shot himself.

Dorner was accused of murdering three people -- including one police officer -- in shootings that took place on February 3rd and February 7th in California. Two other police officers were injured in the shootings.

Cops believe Dorner -- a former LAPD officer who was dismissed in 2008 -- posted a rambling manifesto on his Facebook page ... in which he declared "unconventional and asymmetric warfare" on the LAPD and their families.

5:15 PM PT -- The cabin has burned to the ground. Police are still surrounding the property and waiting to move in to begin searching for any sign of Dorner.

4:18 PM PT -- The entire cabin is on fire -- and one person on the scene says it's "completely engulfed in flames." It's unclear if Dorner is still inside.

3:50 PM PT -- The L.A. Times is reporting one of the deputies shot in the crossfire has died from his injuries.

2:52 PM PT -- TMZ has learned ... the L.A. City Fire Dept. is airlifting the L.A.P.D. SWAT team to Big Bear so they can help with the standoff.

2:39 PM PT -- The FAA has implemented "Temporary Flight Restrictions" around Big Bear due to the gun battle. Only law enforcement aircraft can fly in the restricted area.

The restricted area is 5 miles in radius, from the ground up to 13,000 feet above sea level, which is about 5,000 feet above ground level.

1:48 PM PT -- There seems to be a lull in the gunfire. Cops have also confirmed two deputies were shot by the suspect -- the extent of their injuries is unclear.

1:35 PM PT -- Cops involved in the gun battle are screaming at a local reporter at the scene to "get the f**k out."

Cops have repeatedly cussed at the reporter -- demanding that he leave for his own good.

Murder suspect/ex-cop Christopher Dorner is now cornered by cops in a remote cabin in Big Bear, CA ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... and we're now told Dorner is using smoke grenades to fend off police.

We're also hearing there are 2 officers down.

One source directly involved in the case tells TMZ, "We have him cornered." This comes after a couple were the victims of a home invasion robbery in Big Bear. The suspect fled in a white Dodge pickup truck and a State Fish and Game ranger fired on the vehicle.

One of the deputies who was hit in the shootout with Christopher Dorner has died from his injuries ... this according to multiple reports.

The deputy was one of two cops who was shot in the gun battle with Dorner outside a remote cabin in Big Bear, CA. The cops were among the first to respond to the cabin.

Dorner is still holed up in the cabin -- with an army of officers surrounding the area.

Dorner had been suspected of killing 3 people -- including a cop ... and now, with this tragic turn of events, his alleged kill count is now up to 4.