Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation in Arroyo Grande Underway
ARROYO GRANDE, Calif.
What started as an attempted carjacking at an Arroyo Grande gas station, turned in to a police officer shooting near Highway 101.
Arroyo Grande officers say a man tried to carjack someone at knife point at the AM-PM – he was unsuccessful at getting that car. Police say he then ran off and was shot by an officer after threatening that officer with a knife.
“It’s scary right out here in the open..you know, people are getting desperate,” Arroyo Grande resident Ernestine Dearwent said.
Investigators say witnesses told them that after the suspect unsuccessfully tried to carjack someone at the AM-PM, the suspect ran down Grand Avenue into the greenbelt alongside the highway.
“He could’ve been hungry, he could’ve needed to go somewhere.. or he’s crazy,” Dearwent said.
Police say they found the man hiding in the trees next to Highway 101. When the officer confronted the man, they say he then showed a knife – threatening that officer. The suspect was shot four times.
“He was taken to Sierra Regional Medical Center and last I heard he was in surgery,” Arroyo Grande Police Commander Michael Martinez said.
Arroyo Grande Police Commander Michael Martinez says the officer did the right thing.
“Officer followed protocol,” Martinez said.
“People are nuts,” Arroyo Grande resident Norman Molera said.
The community had mixed reaction on whether or not police should’ve used a gun.
“I think they did a good job, you know, officers are here to protect, everybody’s always down on them because they’re always wrong about something – I don’t think so,” Molera said.
“They could’ve you know tackled him and cuffed him, just one man with a knife, it’s not like he had a loaded gun, they shouldn’t have shot him,” Dearwent said.
“Whatever the law will put down on him, I don’t care, he’s just one of those guys I just don’t care about,” Molera said.
“I’ll be more careful when I come in here,” Dearwent said.
Officers still have not identified the suspect. His condition is unknown at this time.
