Contradicting accounts of Salinas officer-involved shooting from police and witnesses
Conflicting accounts are surfacing following an officer-involved shooting on Friday at the Mi Pueblo in East Salinas. A woman claims she saw police brutality first-hand, while police say it was all in self-defense.
“It was horrible, I haven’t been able to eat, I wasn’t able to sleep, nothing whatsoever,” said witness Carmen Cardiel.
On Saturday, Cardiel came back to Mi Pueblo a day after ordering her food and witnessing the shooting.
“We drove in right here, the guy already had his hands up, you know surrendering himself,” she said.
“At about 7:20 this evening (Friday) officers received a call from a citizen indicating that there was a man in this particular parking lot, here on East Alisal Street, who had a knife and was waving it back and forth,” said Salinas Police Cmdr. Vince Maiorana.
Police said when the man did not comply with officers, they tased him.
“It is my understanding that this person was able to actually get to the knife after being tased,” Maiorana said.
Police said the man pulled the knife out toward the officers.
“I didn’t see a knife whatsoever,” Cardiel said.
Cardiel had a front row seat to what happened next.
“I said ‘Oh my god they shot him, they shot him,'” Cardiel remembered. “It was the worst thing I’d ever seen.”
Police said the man died from multiple gunshot wounds by two officers.
Other witnesses that spoke with Central Coast News off-camera said the man had left a bar near the Mi Pueblo and was scraping his knife on the ground while singing, not bothering anyone. Police said they received a 911 call from a person claiming the man attacked customers.
Both police and witnesses tell a very different story, but two things are certain: One man is dead and no one else was hurt.
The two officers involved are on paid leave during the investigation, which is standard procedure.
“Mi Pueblo’s priority is the safety of our customers,” Mi Pueblo said in a statement. “What happened in the parking lot was a lamentable incident, but we are grateful our customers were not affected. Our thoughts go out to the family of the victim and the officers of Salinas who once again proved their commitment to our community.”
