BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The officers with the Bakersfield Police Department involved in a deadly shooting in December 2022 will not face criminal charges, according to the California Attorney General’s Office.
The shooting was reported on Dec. 20, 2022, in the area of Madison Street and East Belle Terrace.
Officials with the California Attorney General’s Office said at the time of the incident, the suspect, years later identified as Juan Carlos Chabel-Orellano, threatened to shoot a railroad employee near a homeless encampment.
When officers arrived and approached Chabel-Orellano, he pointed a gun in the direction of officers and and then fled. Officers then shot in his direction.
Chabel-Orellano went into a tent encampment and did not comply with officers and raised and lowered a tent flap and officers shot their gun again. He then fled the encampment and was believed to still be armed.
Officials with the AG’s Office said officers fired their weapon again and none of the rounds struck the suspect.
After a foot-pursuit, Chabel-Orellano walked in the direction of the officers and was holding a metallic object. Officials with the AG’s Office said he did not comply with commands.
Officers then fired their weapons.
Chabel-Orellano fell to the ground, then sat up. His hands were not visible to officers and they fired more rounds, according to the AG’s Office.
It was discovered the metallic object was a knife and the pistol he pointed was discarded near the encampment.
The Attorney General’s Office recommended the following for the Bakersfield Police Department:
The police department should provide additional training regarding firearms safety, awareness of surroundings before shooting and the identification of targets before shooting.
The police department amend their use of force policy and provide training on duty, when feasible, to allow subjects an opportunity to respond to a deadly force warning before using deadly force.
BPD to provide detailed training on when deadly force can be appropriately used on a suspect who is fleeing.
BPD implement training on the legal standard of when deadly force is authorized based upon an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.
BPD ensures its officers comply with the policy requirement that they activate their body-worn camera when in the field.
BPD provide additional de-escalation training.
BPD provide training to its officers on the policy requirement for muting audio on body-worm cameras.
BPD amend their policy to require officers not to discuss a shooting with other officers before providing a formal criminal or administrative statement to authorized personnel.
BPD modify its de-escalation policy to comply with state law, which requires officers to use de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention tactics and other alternatives when feasible.
BPD train its officers to communicate with subjects who might not understand English.
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