Names of Stanislaus County deputy, suspect involved in weekend shooting released

The woman shot by a deputy last Saturday night is expected to be released from the hospital soon. She will booked into jail on multiple felony charges.

Deputy Royjindar Singh on Wednesday identified the suspect as 34-year-old Story Miller and the deputy who shot her as Brent Salyer. This is Salyer’s second officer-involved shooting in 17 months.

Deputies were called to a home in the 200 block of Bragg Road south of Modesto Saturday night for a report Miller was trying to stab her boyfriend with a knife.

Deputies found Miller standing outside of the home holding the knife.

The woman refused to comply with the deputies’ commands during the confrontation and Salyer fired his department-issued gun, hitting the woman at least once, according to authorities.

The deputies provided first aid until medics arrived. Miller was taken by an ambulance to a local hospital.

Singh said Miller is facing charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence for the alleged attack on her boyfriend. She also will be booked on two counts of assault with the deadly weapon due to her actions with the deputies.

Singh said detectives would not release any more details about the incident including whether Miller came toward the deputies with the knife, how far they were from her or if they attempted to use a Taser or other less lethal weapons prior to Salyer firing his gun.

Salyer has been a deputy with the Sheriff’s Department for four months, recently completing the field training program, Singh said. He previously worked at the Modesto Police Department for one year and nine months, during which he was involved in his first shooting.

In December 2015, Salyer was in the training program, partnered with his training officer Tom Fara, when the two chased a suspect who fled from them on a bicycle into a parking garage in downtown Modesto. The suspect pulled a gun from his waistband. The officers ordered him to drop the gun and both opened fired when he didn’t.

Modesto Police Chief Galen Carroll gave Salyer and Fara the Medal of Valor for their actions and Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office in November said the shooting was justified.

Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves would not say under what circumstances Salyer left the Modesto Police Department.

Saturday night’s shooting remains under investigation by the Stanislaus District Attorney’s Office and the sheriff’s department.

This story was originally published May 18, 2017 at 5:29 PM with the headline "Names of Stanislaus County deputy, suspect involved in weekend shooting released."