3 months ago
WOODLAND, CA - The Yolo County District Attorney's Office will not file criminal charges against three Yolo County sheriff's deputies involved in the fatal shooting of a Woodland man last April.
Luis Gutierrez Navarro, 26, was the man shot in the April 30th incident.
In announcing his office's decision following the investigation into the actions of deputies Hernan Oviedo, Hector Bautista and Dale Johnson, District Attorney Jeff Reisig noted the following findings:
The initial consensual contact by sheriff's deputies was in a high crime area with gang graffiti.
Navarro immediately fled from deputies running across Gum Avenue into traffic.
Navarro had methamphetamine in his system which may have altered his perception.
The plainclothed deputies' statements that they verbally identified themselves as police officers and showed their guns and badges was corroborated by a witness who watched the pursuit and said she could tell the deputies were police officers.
During the foot pursuit, Navarro quickly turned and swung a pocket knife at Johnson. Johnson jumped back to avoid the knife and he was placed in a position that required him and Deputy Oviedo to use deadly force in order to avoid great bodily injury or death.
Earlier this month, a review of the shooting by California Attorney General's Office concurred with the Yolo County District Attorney's report.
Earlier this month, a review of the shooting by California Attorney General's Office concurred with the Yolo County District Attorney's report.
