Full Notification

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 79-year-old Seo Myong Yang of Denair, CA for assault with a deadly weapon for his alleged involvement in an officer involved shooting taking place on Sunday, November 8, 2020.  The incident took place in the 1800 block of North Gratton Rd in unincorporated Denair where deputies responded to a disturbance involving Yang on his own property.  

Emergency 911 calls came into the Stanislaus County communications center beginning at approximately 4:24 p.m. reporting a male in the middle of the roadway not letting vehicles pass.  We later learned the man, who was soon identified as Yang, had been armed with a 2 X 4 while yelling profanities at others.  

Deputies were unable to make contact with Yang during their first response to the home; however, they communicated with the suspect’s wife and a decision was made for the couple to seek mental health treatment later in the week.  Given no crimes were initially committed, and the man was no longer creating an issue out on the public roadway, law enforcement cleared the scene upon conferring with the wife.  

The Sheriff’s Office was called approximately 25-minutes later in order to deal with Yang once more as his behavior was becoming more erratic and dangerous.  The second call was believed to have been made by the suspect’s wife.  

Upon law enforcement’s arrival the second time, they encountered Yang driving a Bobcat tractor in an unsafe manner.  Deputies tried to engage him in conversation and negotiation, but he refused to cooperate or comply with instructions they were giving.  They even utilized a tactical retreat as a means of avoiding further violent altercation.   

At one point during the encounter, Yang recklessly crashed the tractor through a fence, coming onto the public roadway with the loading forks of the Bobcat displayed towards deputies and citizens.  Yang drove at a citizen and deputies with reckless disregard.   

An officer involved shooting ensued, multiple rounds were fired, deputies rendered emergency life-saving medical aid, and an ambulance transported Yang to a hospital for his injuries. He continued to act defiantly while asking for our sheriff’s deputies to kill him. He is still hospitalized receiving treatment and will be booked into the Stanislaus Co Public Safety Center upon medical clearance.  

Names of the involved law enforcement officers are not yet being disclosed; however, we can report no deputies or other bystanders or witnesses were injured as a result of the shooting.  Yang’s condition has stabilized and is expected to survive.  

Our office is currently in the process of producing a community brief, which will be narrated by Sheriff Jeff Dirkse.  We will be releasing body worn camera imagery to provide even more clarity to what took place during the later afternoon, early evening hours of November 8 in Denair.  

Detective K Sulkowsi and fellow homicide detectives continue to investigate.  The Stanislaus Co DA’s Office, as well as our own Internal Affairs Bureau, will be conducting their own parallel review consistent with already established protocol. We encourage members of the public to call 209-525-7032 should they have more information to share.   

Callers can also choose to remain anonymous by submitting their tips to Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636.  Tipsters can also submit tips at www.Stancrimetips.org or by using the mobile app “P3” which may result in your eligibility for a cash reward.