Suspect, officer involved in Lompoc police shooting identified
UPDATE
The Lompoc Police Department held a press conference Monday at 5 p.m. in which they discussed new details into the investigation of an officer-involved shooting.
Investigators now say only one Lompoc police officer fired his weapon striking 27-year-old Michael Giles. That officer has been identified as Corporal Charles Scott, and is currently on administrative leave.
Cpl. Scott, a 4-year veteran of the Lompoc Police Department, had recently been in the news for being the father of 14-year-old Noah Scott, a police explorer with the Lompoc Police Department currently fighting Leukemia.
Investigators now say when officers arrived at Jet Action Laundry, the suspect was not there, but rather located him at a nearby shopping center. They say Giles allegedly brandished a knife and fled from officers, running across H Street through traffic, and onto a walking path between H and O streets.
Officers gave chase but lost sight of him. They eventually located Giles hiding in the shrubs close to the walking path, and that’s when investigators say Giles allegedly confronted the officers with a knife in hand and rushed towards them. Scott fired his weapon multiple times striking Giles. It’s unknown how many times or where Giles was hit.
During Monday’s press conference, investigators revealed that Giles had been previously arrested twice for vandalism, robbery and court order violations.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department is heading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
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The Lompoc Police Department and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Monday morning in the 1100 block of North H Street.
Sgt. Kevin Martin with the Lompoc Police Department said shortly after 8 a.m., officers arrived at Jet Action Laundry, located at 1004 North H Street, after receiving a call of a man, possibly drunk, threatening patrons. Officers confronted the man who was described as a white male adult and holding a knife. Martin says officers tried to get him to drop the weapon.
The man was later identified as 27-year-old Lompoc resident Michael Giles.
Authorities say Giles fled from police, officers gave chase, but eventually lost sight of him. Martin says the suspect was hiding in a ditch in the 1100 block of North H Street before reappearing to officers wielding a knife.
It was at that point when Martin says Giles allegedly rushed at officers with the knife in hand, and officers shot him multiple times. Officers gave Giles first aid until medical personnel arrived on scene and took over life-saving efforts. Giles was taken to Lompoc Valley Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. His family has been notified.
No officers were injured, according to the Lompoc Police Department.
All of the officers involved in the incident were taken back to the police station to be interviewed by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department handling the investigation.
