Police Shooting of Brian Tacadena Ruled Justified

Santa Barbara County District Attorney released the following information:

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has completed its review of the investigation by the Santa Barbara Police Department of the homicide of Brian Tacadena that occurred on September 1, 2013, in Santa Barbara, California.

The District Attorney finds the shooting was a justifiable homicide under Penal Code section 196(2). It has also been determined that Tacadena was associated with a known criminal gang which may pose a risk to law enforcement officers and witnesses in this investigation.

Therefore, the District Attorney carefully balanced the public’s right to know the identity of certain witnesses and the involved law enforcement officers versus the threat of harm to those witnesses or officers.

At this time it is too dangerous for the safety of those individuals to release their names because there are substantial concerns that there could be retaliation.

The District Attorney may release the identity of the parties at a later time when it is determined that a threat no longer exists.

On September 1, 2013, late in the evening, Brian Tacadena brandished a large military style knife with a nine inch blade while located near the area of De La Vina Street and Victoria Street in the City of Santa Barbara.

Officer #1 was on routine patrol in the area when he observed Tacadena with the knife and reported the situation to dispatch. Officer #1 was driving a clearly marked police vehicle and wearing a full police uniform.

Officer #1 issued multiple lawful orders to Tacadena to drop the knife. Tacadena acknowledged, yet ignored the warnings and continued to approach Officer #1 while brandishing the knife.

Tacadena advanced on the officer and continuously refused to drop the weapon. Officer #1 fired five shots, in an effort to defend his life; Tacadena was struck once in the chest. Tacadena ultimately succumbed to this wound.

For the full report, click on the following link: http://www.countyofsb.org/da/da_press.html

Slideshow: Police Shooting of Brian Tacadena Ruled Justified