BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — The California Department of Justice is investigating an officer-involved shooting that left one man dead early Wednesday in Southwest Bakersfield.
The Bakersfield Police Department reported they responded just after midnight at a home near the intersection of Stine Road and Belle Terrace.
BPD says they responded to reports of a homeowner hearing voices in their home they didn't recognize.
When they arrived they say they contacted a man that the resident didn't recognize.
Bakersfield Police Department Public Information Officer Eric Celedon said the man became "assaultive" toward officers after 30 minutes of de-escalation tactics which resulted in the shooting.
"During that altercation, officers utilized multiple lower levels of force, including 40-millimeter direct impact rounds, 40 millimeter [pepper spray] rounds, canister of gas, which is designed to irritate the person inside the room, as well as tasers to attempt to persuade this person to exit the building. He still failed to do so. During this 30 minutes of interacting with that individual, he became assaultive towards officers, which is when the officer-involved shooting occurred," said Celedon.
The man was then arrested and taken to this hospital where he died.
Crime scene investigators were at the scene documenting the incident well into the afternoon Wednesday. Celedon noted that the CA Department of Justice has taken over the investigation to comply Assembly Bill 1506 which went into law in July of 2021.
"Assembly Bill 1506 has specific requirements in the event in an officer-involved shooting, which results in a death. When some of the — when all of those criteria are met, which include it being an officer-involved shooting, it resulting in death, as well as specific definitions in terms of the individual being armed, are met: it requires that we notify the California Department of Justice. In this circumstance, it met those requirements, we consulted with the California Department of Justice, and they elected to take over the investigation," said Celedon.
According to the state Attorney General’s webpage describing the bill: “AB 1506 provides DOJ with an important tool to directly help build and maintain trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
This investigation is ongoing anyone with information is asked to call BPD at 661-327-7111.
Stay in Touch with Us Anytime, Anywhere:
