BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
The shooting was reported on Dec. 20, 2022, in the area of Madison Street and East Belle Terrace.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Officials with the AG’s Office said officers fired their weapon again and none of the rounds struck the suspect.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Officers then fired their weapons.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
It was discovered the metallic object was a knife and the pistol he pointed was discarded near the encampment.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General’s Office recommended the following for the Bakersfield Police Department:<\/p>\n
The police department should provide additional training regarding firearms safety, awareness of surroundings before shooting and the identification of targets before shooting.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
BPD to provide detailed training on when deadly force can be appropriately used on a suspect who is fleeing.<\/p>\n
BPD implement training on the legal standard of when deadly force is authorized based upon an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.<\/p>\n
BPD ensures its officers comply with the policy requirement that they activate their body-worn camera when in the field.<\/p>\n
BPD provide additional de-escalation training.<\/p>\n
BPD provide training to its officers on the policy requirement for muting audio on body-worm cameras.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
BPD train its officers to communicate with subjects who might not understand English.<\/p>\n
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