State Attorney General clears Salinas PD officers of charges in deadly July 2022 officer involved shooting
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced no charges will be filed against the four police officers who shot and killed a Salinas man in an incident back on July 2022.
This is in connection to the Attorney General's investigation of an officer involved shooting where Curtis Dale Barnett was shot and killed by police along Crescent Way on July 13 of that year.
Investigators said police were responding to reports of a stabbing in the area and found a stabbing victim on the curb before Barnett appeared from inside his home.
The Attorney General's office said Barnett was holding what appeared to be a submachine gun in his left hand and a sword in his right hand and was yelling expletives at the officers.
The officers ordered Barnett to put down the weapon, but Barnett wouldn't comply and walked toward officers while yelling before he was ultimately shot and killed.
The Department of Justice previously identified the officers as Gabriel Garcia, Alejandro Jimenez, Eduardo Bejarano and Jordy Urrutia.
"Under AB 1506, which requires DOJ to investigate all incidents of officer-involved shootings resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian in the state, DOJ conducted a thorough investigation into this incident and concluded that the evidence does not show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officers involved acted without the intent to defend themselves and others from what each of them reasonably believed to be imminent death or serious bodily injury," said Bonta.
Despite charges not being field against any of the officers, the DOJ said they identified several policy recommendations that could prevent something like this from happening again.
Some of it has to do with the language in SPD policy, suggesting the department "revise their policy on body worn cameras to state that SPD officer members shall activate their body worn cameras rather than state that officer members 'should' activate the cameras."
It also suggests the department review its policy on when officers need to transition from a less lethal to lethal weapon system and train officers on such techniques.
“We recognize the considerable challenges and difficulties faced by all those affected, including Mr. Barnett’s family, the law enforcement agencies involved, and the community at large," said Bonta. "We are committed to building trust and integrity within our justice system, ensuring that the rights and dignity of all individuals are upheld and safeguarded.”
To read the full report from the Department of Justice's investigation click here
Department of Justice identifies Salinas officers in deadly OIS on Crescent Way
Four Salinas officers have been identified in a deadly shooting where police shot and killed a man back in July 2022.
The Department of Justice names officers Gabriel Garcia, Alejandro Jimenez, Eduardo Bejarano and Jordy Urrutia as the involved officers in the incident.
They're being investigated in the shooting death of Curtis Dale Barnett on July 13, 2022.
Barnett was found to be holding a replica firearm at the time of the shooting. A witness at the scene said Barnett slashed him with a sword prior to police arriving.
According to Salinas Police, all four officers are back on duty.
This includes Officer Jordy Urrutia who was named in a previous officer involved shooting where the Monterey County District Attorney found a man had charged at officers with a weapon before he was shot.
Man killed by Salinas Police may have been involved in standoff with deputies in 2015
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) - UPDATE July 21, 2:17 p.m.: A man with the same name as the victim killed in an officer involved shooting on July 13 was also in a standoff with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office in 2015.
Read more: UPDATE: Seven-hour standoff ends at North Salinas apartment complex
Curtis Dale Barnett, 60, was in a standoff with deputies at Pointe Harden Ranch apartment complex on North Main Street after he was being served an eviction notice. This incident occurred on June 16, 2015, according to deputies.
Both the California Department of Justice and the Monterey County Sheriff's Department confirmed the name of the shooting victim and the standoff suspect as the same, down to the middle name and age. He was 66 when Salinas Police killed him, said both the DOJ and deputies.
What deputies, the DOJ, and Salinas Police won't confirm with KION is if Barnett's date of birth is the same or if he is the same person involved in both incidents.
DOJ has identified the man killed by Salinas Police after officer-involved shooting in North Salinas
UPDATE July 20, 6:41 p.m.: The State of California Department of Justice has identified the man killed by Salinas Police on July 13 outside a home on the 300 block of Crescent Way.
Curtis Dale Barnett was shot and killed by police after he confronted them outside the home, said Salinas Police. Several neighbors told KION that Barnett was holding a replica firearm when he was shot multiple times by police.
The DOJ says the officer-involved shooting is still under investigation.
Police: Four officers are on administrative leave after officer-involved shooting in North Salinas
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) - UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: Salinas Police Chief Roberto Filice confirmed with KION that four Salinas Police Officers are administrative leave after an officer-involved shooting on Crescent Way Wednesday night.
Filice said he the DOJ has to confirm if the man shot by police was using a fake gun.
The State Department of Justice confirmed one person was killed following an officer-involved shooting late Wednesday night in Salinas
Department of Justice confirms one person killed in officer-involved shooting
UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: State Department of Justice officials confirm one person was killed following an officer-involved shooting late Wednesday night in Salinas.
The individual who was killed has not been identified by investigators as well as the officers who shot at the individual.
The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said the DOJ will usually take up an officer-involved shooting case if the subject was in possession of a replica firearm that didn't work or misfired.
Three neighbors along Crescent and North First initially told KION the person shot by Salinas Police died. They also added the person shot was holding a replica firearm when he was killed by police.
Salinas Police would not confirm if a coroner was called out to the scene last night and deferred questions to the Monterey County District Attorney's Office. That was before the Department of Justice decided to take the lead on the investigation.
The DOJ said they're doing so because of the "uncertainty regarding the OIS (Officer-involved shooting)."
It's the first officer-involved shooting case the DOJ is taking on in Monterey County following a new law allowing them to do so.
UPDATE: 11:51 a.m.: The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said an officer-involved shooting investigation in Salinas has now shifted into the hands of the Department of Justice.
The D.A.'s office said initially that the D.O.J. was looking into the case and once they take over the D.A. would have no further comment on the investigation.
We are awaiting additional information from investigators after one person was shot at by Salinas Police late Wednesday night as they were responding to reports of a stabbing.
Salinas Police and the D.A. would not provide information on the victim of the stabbing nor would they provide info on the condition of the individual who was shot at by police.
No officers were injured in the shooting, according to Salinas Police.
ORIGINAL STORY
The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said they are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred late Wednesday night on the 200 block of Crescent Way.
This incident began around 10:30 p.m., and in the video shown above, you can hear at least a dozen shots fired. It is unknown how many officers or suspects were involved in the shooting. Or if anyone was taken to the hospital.
Salinas Police said they were responding to a stabbing call when the suspect confronted them upon arrival, and they opened fire in response.
Salinas Police Chief Roberto Filice said that none of his officers were hurt and that the DA's Office would be handling the investigation.
The Monterey District Attorney's Office told our reporter on the scene that they will release more information later on Thursday.
This is a developing story.
