Full Notification

Detectives with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office are currently investigating a fatal officer involved shooting which took place this morning in the 800 block of Business Park Drive in an unincorporated portion of Modesto.

Patrol deputies were dispatched to a business on Sunday, September 27, 2020 at approximately 4:57 a.m. for reports of a silent burglary alarm. Once they arrived, law enforcement located a Hispanic male adult in his 40’s outside of the business.

Deputies made contact with the man in relation to the dispatched call. While attempting to take him into custody, a struggle ensued which resulted in an officer involved shooting. The man was armed with a hatchet and two deputies were injured. Deputies rendered emergency first aid on-scene and summoned an ambulance for treatment and transport to the emergency room. The man did not survive and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Both law enforcement officers were treated and released from the hospital. They will be assigned to administrative duties while the criminal and internal investigations are conducted. Representatives of the District Attorney’s Office will also be handling their own parallel investigation to review all facts and circumstances.

The criminal case is being handled by Detective Esquivez with the Crimes Against Persons Unit. She can be reached at 209-567-4466 should the public have any additional details to provide. More will be forthcoming as investigators and administrators with the Sheriff’s Office gather added information.

Please direct any further questions regarding this press release to Sgt Luke Schwartz by calling 209-596-1348.