UPDATE (March 23, 2018 4:30 p.m.): Officer Richard Robles believed the suspect in the northwest Bakersfield shooting was holding a weapon when he fired his pistol, according to Bakersfield Police.
An initial investigation revealed that Officer Richard Robles fired one shot from his pistol after 24-year-old Marcos Gonzales was seen "holding a dark object", which Officer Robles believed to be a weapon, according to police.
Police said Gonzales was in the passenger seat sending text messages and repeatedly ignored officers commands to show his hands and exit the vehicle.
When Gonzales eventually did exit the vehicle he dropped his hands out of sight and "produced his hands holding a dark object," according to Bakersfield Police.
The shot that was fired by Officer Robles hit an unoccupied vehicle, police said. No other shots were fired during the incident.
The driver of the vehicle, 21-year-old Javier Luevano complied with police and exited the vehicle when he was initially told to do so and was arrested without incident.
The back seat passenger, 21-year-old Daniela Ayala also complied with officers and was also arrested without incident.
Police said all three occupants of the stolen vehicle were arrested.
The driver Javier Luevano, 21, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, auto theft, conspiracy, and possession of methamphetamine.
One of the passengers Marcos Gonzales, 24, charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, auto theft, and conspiracy.
Gonzales was also arrested on two outstanding warrants for auto theft and probation violation.
The other passenger – Daniela Ayala, 21, was arrested on two misdemeanor warrants for being under the influence of a controlled substance and a municipal code violation. She was cited and released.
No firearms were found at the scene.
BPD said Officer Robles has been an officer with the Bakersfield Police Department for 4 ½ years.
This was his second officer-involved shooting.
Officer Robles has been placed on administrative leave pending review by the Critical Incident Review Board.
Officers responded to the officer-involved shooting around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21st in the parking lot of Home Depot on Rosedale Highway.
BPD Sgt. Brian Holcombe said officers spotted a reported stolen vehicle in the area of Coffee Road and Rosedale Highway.
Officers followed the vehicle to the Home Depot parking lot in the Northwest Promenade where a felony traffic stop was initiated.
Sgt. Holcombe said a passenger exited the vehicle and an officer-involved shooting occurred.
No one was injured.
It is unknown where the car was reported stolen from.
