Ex Hollister cop identified in Gilroy High School officer involved shooting

UPDATE 9/10/18 12:35 p.m. An ex Hollister cop was identified as the suspect in Sunday afternoon’s officer involved shooting in Gilroy.

The suspect, Chad Browning of Fresno was charged with car theft, assault with a deadly weapon on a Peace officer and possession of Methamphetamine.

He was arrested at Gilroy High School. Detectives questioned him about his motive, but Gilroy Police said his reasoning was incoherent and would not keep him from being prosecuted.

He was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail.

The suspect was not affiliated with law enforcement in Fresno.

Hollister Police Chief, David Westrick told KION Browning started working for HPD in 2003.

“Hopefully that experience will allow Mr. Browning to seek the help that he needs in this situation and I’m glad that no one was hurt,” said Chief Westrick.

Browning was arrested after he allegedly stole a car in Fresno, drove to Gilroy and called police there. He allegedly stole a phone and drove at an officer who was trying to prevent him from leaving the scene of the incident.

That officer fired one shot that caused Browning to lose control of the car he was driving and ultimately surrender to police.

PREVIOUS STORY: 9/9/18 6:36 p.m. Gilroy Police are investigating an incident that involved a stolen car and an officer involved shooting at Gilroy High School.

It started this morning when a car was reported stolen in Fresno. The suspect was a former police officer with access to guns and no ties to the Gilroy area.

At around 1:00 pm., the suspect called Gilroy Police dispatch using a phone someone had let him borrow.

He referenced the stolen car. He told dispatch that the woman who reported it stolen had been kidnaped and that the stolen car was stolen from him while he was in Gilroy.

He hung up on dispatch and left the area, allegedly stealing the phone he had borrowed from a developmentally disabled person.

The suspect called dispatch again and mentioned a game happening at Gilroy High School. He said he wanted to fight an officer.

Police went to the high school and found him driving through an empty ball field.

That field is next to a stadium where several hundred 5th and 6th graders were playing in a series of Pop Warner football games.

Parents responded quickly and closed the gates to the stadium.

The suspect tried to leave the way he got in, but police blocked him.

He drove straight at an officer who could not get away. The officer thought that he could be seriously injured or killed, so he took one shot at the car.

That shot was enough to make the suspect lose control in the field.

He surrendered to officers.

Students and parents at the game sheltered in place until the area was safe.

There were no injuries during the incident.

The officer is on leave while the shooting is investigated. The suspect’s identity and charges will be released in the next few days.

PREVIOUS STORY: Gilroy Police are reporting that there was an officer involved incident at Gilroy High School on Sunday.

They say nobody was hurt, but officers are still at the scene.

This is a developing story.