State’s Justice Department clears Guadalupe Police officer of criminal charges in 2021 fatal police shooting
GUADALUPE, Calif. – The California Department of Justice has cleared a Guadalupe Police officer of criminal charges following an officer-involved shooting on Aug. 21, 2021 of last year that resulted in the death of a bystander.
The state's DOJ investigation ultimately decided there was enough evidence that Guadalupe Police Officer Miguel Jaimes, "acted in self-defense and in the defense of others" and declined to pursue criminal charges against Officer Jaimes.
During the 2021 police-involved shooting, Officer Jaimes fired three rounds, one of which ricocheted and killed Juan Luis Olvera-Preciado while he was seated in his car, according to the DOJ investigation.
GPD Officers made contact with a man who had two outstanding arrest warrants during an investigation of a fire started in the area.
Following a foot chase, the man refused officer commands to show his hands and eventually "punched out" his right hand while using a parked car for cover according to the other responding GPD Officer Christopher Orozco.
GPD Officer Jaimes fired three rounds in response, one of which fatally struck Mr. Olvera-Preciado.
“My heart goes out to Mr. Olvera-Preciado’s family, friends, and all those who knew him,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “His death was tragic and there is nothing that can make up for the loss of a loved one. While my office has determined that the evidence does not support criminal charges against the involved officer, we are making direct recommendations to the Guadalupe Police Department to help increase public trust and keep our communities safe."
One of those recommendations include a revision to body-camera usage during investigative stops.
According to the investigation, two GPD officers involved in the shooting had been issued inoperable body-worn cameras and a third GPD officer, "failed to activate the camera" they were wearing.
All officer-involved shootings that result in the death of an unarmed person are required to be investigated by the California DOJ per California Assembly Bill 1506, signed into law Sept. 30, 2020
