UPDATE: Salinas Police officers cleared of criminal charges in Carlos Mejia OIS investigation

UPDATE 9/4/15 2:20 p.m.: The two Salinas Police officers involved in the shooting of Carlos Mejia in 2014 have both been cleared of any criminal charges, according to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.

Still, while the investigation has come to an end for many the struggle with police isn’t over.

“Through conversation we can began to try to heal but unfortunately these wounds have been you know long scared a re-opened,” said Raul Damien Tapia with MILPA.

Born and raised in Salinas, Tapia saw it all unfold. Four officer involved shootings in one year.

DA Dean Flippo said the officers actions were justified as they attempted to arrest Mejia on North Sanborn.

Mejia, 44, was killed May 20, 2014 as Salinas Police tried to arrest him after he allegedly tried to break into a woman’s home.

“Everyone suffers here. It hurts everyone. Not only, certainly the family of the victim, but it also really impacts the officers,” said Dean Flippo, Monterey County District Attorney.

In a document released Friday, the DA’s Office revealed the relevant reasons for the DA’s conclusion:

-A woman heard knocking on her door on May 20. When she went to open the door, investigators said Mejia stepped into her doorway and demanded food. The woman shoved him from the door and Mejia responded by choking her poodle that was leashed to a tree outside the home. Investigators said Mejia then produced 22 inch gardening shears with 7 inch blades in a threatening manner and told the woman he would kill her dog. Mejia then exposed his penis and threatened to kill the woman before she called 911, investigators said.

-Two officers responded to the incident and identified Mejia in possession of the shears capable of being used as a stabbing instrument.

-For more than two minutes, the officers gave verbal commands in English and Spanish asking Mejia including “let me see your hands,” “stop,” “put your hands up,””do not move,” and “drop it, drop the weapon.”

-Investigators said Mejia intermittently swung the shears at the officers, using them as a weapon to avoid arrest.

-Mejia presented as unpredictable, irrational and a clear and immediate danger of taking a hostage or seriously injuring or killing an innocent bystander if he entered Delicia’s Bakery.

Surveillance video from a nearby bakery on North Sanborn, captured two officers with guns drawn as they asked Mejia to drop the gardening sheers and surrender. Officers used a stun gun twice; the first time the stun gun didn’t work and the second time it was ineffective.

Mejia was seen walking away from the two officers, gardening sheers in hand. Chief Kelly McMillin said officers prioritized arrest Mejia, before he could get away or enter the bakery. He said the pivotal moment came when officers had nothing to put between themselves and Mejia, as he turned toward officers holding the gardening shears.

“Right before the shots rang out, you’ll see as he’s walking away taking steps, he’ll shift his weight back to his left foot, and you’ll see his right heel come up and pivot around as he begins turning back toward the officer,” McMillin said.

McMillin said that’s when both officers fired their guns.

Investigators with the Salinas Police Department worked with the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office on the investigation into any criminal charges. McMillin also asked for additional reviews of the case by the FBI and the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice.

In 2014, a lawsuit was filed against the City of Salinas on behalf of the family of Carlos Mejia.