Hollister
– Citing state law, the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office won’t
release details of potential penalties against a deputy for
violating a ride-along policy by having his daughter present when
he ultimately shot an unarmed man, while autopsy results for Israel
Guerrero may be available Wednesday.
Hollister – Citing state law, the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office won’t release details of potential penalties against a deputy for violating a ride-along policy by having his daughter present when he ultimately shot an unarmed man, while autopsy results for Israel Guerrero may be available Wednesday.
Sgt. Mike Rodrigues had his 11-year-old daughter in the patrol car for a ride-along when he shot Guerrero on June 10 along Highway 156, according to the sheriff’s office. Because it’s a personnel issue, Undersheriff Pat Turturici said the office can’t divulge details, if there are any, of related reprimands.
Sheriff Curtis Hill has said Rodrigues followed office policies and procedures in the shooting, but that he violated one rule by having his daughter in the patrol car.
The sheriff’s office performed an autopsy June 11, and Hill has said the man had “near-lethal levels” of cocaine and methamphetamine in his system.
District Attorney Candice Hooper will decide if the shooting was justified. She won’t make that decision until autopsy results come back. Turturici said those results are expected Wednesday.
In Rodrigues’ report, released Thursday, he stated that a Taser gun shock and baton strike failed to subdue the advancing Guerrero. When Guerrero continued advancing toward him to within three feet, he shot him in the abdomen, his report said.
Rodrigues noted in his report: “At this point and time there was no way that I could re-holster my weapon and secure the safety snaps on my duty holster before Guerrero would physically make contact with me and my gun. This is when I fired a single round.”
