UPDATE: Watsonville officer-involved shooting suspect identified
UPDATE 6/8/2015: Watsonville police said the man responsible for an officer-involved shooting on Saturday night made threats toward an officer in April. Police said Alejandro Campos Fernandez made those threats on April 21 and had warrants out for his arrest before that incident. They also said Fernandez has a long criminal background, including possession of firearms.
On Monday, the Watsonville Police Department said surveillance was set up on Fernandez and he was seen walking away from his home Saturday night. Officers said a weapon wasn’t seen on him at that time, but they attempted to contact Fernandez and he ran.
Police said Fernandez was chased down an embankment near the Pajaronian Bridge, where he hid in bushes and crouched down toward the officers with a gun. Recounting the incident, police said Fernandez and the initial officer were about 25 feet apart when Fernandez fired at the officer hitting him in the upper part of his body. Officers then fired back until Fernandez stopped shooting.
Police said the officer who was shot, didn’t have his gun drawn at the time. They also said his bulletproof vest saved his life because the bullets fired by Fernandez hit the officer in the back. Police said the officer’s initial reaction was to turn away from Fernandez. After the gunfire ended, police said a group of officers went down the embankment and found Fernandez was dead.
Officers said Fernandez was also being investigated for allegedly robbing homeless people living near the levee.
The officer who was shot has been released from the hospital, police said Monday. Two more officers are on paid administrative leave, police said.
Watsonville police said the last officer-involved shooting experienced by the department was in 2011. Officers said the last time a officer was hit by gunfire was in 1998.
Officers want to thank the Santa Cruz County dispatchers who handled a high volume of calls during the incident involving responses from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Capitola Police, Seaside Police, California Highway Patrol, the Department of Justice, the DEA and FBI.
Watsonville police investigating officer-involved shootingUPDATE 10:47 p.m.: A seasoned Watsonville police officer was shot after pursuing a suspect with four other officers near the Pajaro River bridge Saturday evening, police said.
The details surrounding the pursuit are still unclear but police said the suspect was known to officers and he was armed. They chased him down the embankment of the levee when the suspect turned around and shot at police.
Officers returned fire ultimately killing the suspect on scene, police said. It’s unknown how many shots were fired at this time.
The officer was hit in the upper body but is in stable condition at a trauma center, police said. His name is not being released at this time.
The shooting occurred around 7 p.m. near the suspect’s home, police added.
Right now, the five officers are off patrol as is protocol for officer-involved shootings. Extra Watsonville officers were brought in to patrol the city along with Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Deputies, police said.
The last officer-involved shooting was in 2011 and the last time an officer was actually shot was 1998, according to police.
PREVIOUS STORY: Multiple law enforcement agencies are on scene of an officer-involved shooting Saturday night in the area of Porter Drive and San Juan Road, police said.
Santa Cruz County deputies are asking people stay clear from of the area of Pajaronian Bridge.
Right now, Seaside police, the California Highway Patrol and the Watsonville police gang unit are on scene.
News Channel 5 has a crew on scene and is reporting that no streets are blocked off.
This article will be updated when more information becomes available.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are on scene of an officer-involved shooting Saturday night in the area of Porter Drive and San Juan Road, police said.
Santa Cruz County deputies are asking people stay clear from of the area of Pajaronian Bridge.
Right now, Seaside police, the California Highway Patrol and the Watsonville police gang unit are on scene.
News Channel 5 has a crew on scene and is reporting that no streets are blocked off.
This article will be updated when more information becomes available.
