Salinas Police ID man waving sword during officer involved shooting

UPDATE: 2/20/2018 2:32 p.m. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office has identified the man involved in a shooting with officers in Salinas.

Javier Rodriguez is still in the hospital and remains in stable condition while in the custody of police. He worked at Dorothy’s Place where his coworkers said they’re saddened by what has happened.

“All the staff at Dorothy’s Place are very saddened by this and very concerned about our friend,” said Executive Director, Dorothy’s Place, Jill Allen.

On Friday night, Rodriguez had been drinking at his home on Jefferson Street in Salinas and was fighting with his girlfriend. He fired off a shot into the air and was also seen with a knife, prompting witnesses to call police.

When police responded they heard a woman in distress and tried to get into his house. They said he pushed the door closed and when they reopened it officers saw a sword.

“From behind the door, Mr. Rodriguez has a sword, it has a three foot blade, the blade comes out from behind the back of the door and comes pretty close, and I can’t tell you with precision but it comes pretty close to crossing the threshold of the door, right within inches or a foot of where police are. When this happens and it happens suddenly, the police immediately start firing rounds,” said Berkley Brannon, chief assistant DA with the Monterey County DA’s Office.

Two officers opened fire when they got into his house, they found him still standing near another room.

“Get down, drop your weapons, get down, get down on the ground. He does not comply. He does raise his hand, his hand is bleeding. The officer with the taser is able to get a clear shot with the taser at this point,” said Brannon.

Rodriguez was taken to the hospital with at least one gunshot wound. He could face a charge of assault with a deadly weapon because of the sword.

The DA’s Office said if he did commit that crime, it clears the officers because they were acting in self-defense. There is body camera video of the incident.

Rodriguez is known around Chinatown working there as well as responding to onsite emergencies at the transitional living facility that he lived by.

“His heart is truly with the marginalized people here in Chinatown and everybody loves him. We will bring in a trauma specialist shortly to work with them and help them process what they witnessed and make sure we see to their needs and their support,” said Allen.

The two officers who opened fire are on administration leave, per Salinas Police policy. One is a sergeant with more than 14 years experience, the other is an officer with two years experience.

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A Salinas Police Department officer was involved in a shooting on the 700 block of Jefferson Street on Friday at 8:45 p.m.

Officers were not injured and the suspect was taken to a nearby hospital and is in stable condition, police said.

The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office is now investigating the officer-involved shooting.

Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call the District Attorney’s Office at (831) 755-5070.