(UPDATE 4/29): The man who was shot and killed by police Tuesday during an incident that also left a police K-9 dead was identified by the Coroner's Office as Dalton James Gerrit Kooiman, 20, of Bakersfield.
According to Kern County Superior Court records, Kooiman had prior arrests on firearm-related charges.
In July 2020 he was charged with felony assault with a firearm and a misdemeanor exhibiting a firearm charge. The felony charge was dismissed and he pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge. He was sentenced to three years probation and 180 days in jail but was released early on good behavior, according to court records.
On April 13, he was charged with felony concealment of a firearm and a misdemeanor charge of owning a firearm. His bail was set of $25,000 and he was out on a surety bond, according to court records.
He was set to be in court for a pre-preliminary hearing on May 4.
The Bakersfield Police Department announced K-9 Officer Jango was shot and killed during an incident Tuesday.
According to BPD Sgt. Robert Pair, Jango was shot during an investigation in Southeast Bakersfield Tuesday night just before 9 p.m. Officers had responded to the area of Felix and Simon Drive after performing a traffic stop on a vehicle previously reported stolen. The vehicle didn't yield, crashed through a fence and the one suspect took off on foot.
BPD said Jango and his handler were approaching the suspect when the suspect fired at the canine. Officers fired back and struck the suspect. BPD said the suspect died at the scene.
Jango was taken to an emergency vet hospital where he died from his injuries.
Jango was a Belgian Malinois and was born in the Netherlands on November 15, 2015. He was united with his human partner and best friend in March of 2017.
"In his time with us, he faithfully served the community of Bakersfield in the field of suspect apprehension and explosive material detection," BPD said.
Memorial plans for the fallen police K-9 have not yet been finalized, and as more information becomes available, it will be released.
No human officers were harmed.
This is an ongoing investigation.
