Ceres police: Parolee pulled out hand torch when officers shot him

Police officials on Thursday afternoon released more details about an officer-involved shooting Tuesday night that left a wanted parolee dead after he pulled out a hand torch as two officers chased him.

Investigators say Albert Thompson, 28, a transient from Ceres, “exhibited” the hand torch when he was shot by Officers Justin Canatsy and Jesus Salinas. The officers, who have both been with the Ceres Police Department for 18 months, fired their guns at Thompson. He was struck at least twice by gunfire.

Ceres police Sgt. Jason Coley said he doesn’t know how close the officers were to Thompson when the shooting occurred, or whether the suspect stopped running and turned to face the officers. It was also unclear to investigators how the suspect held the torch. The department expects to release more details next week.

Coley said he does not believe the officers were wearing body cameras, and that they are still in the testing phase of the program and only four officers are wearing them. He said the department hopes to have all patrol officers equipped with cameras by the end of this month.

Witnesses have told The Modesto Bee the officers were closer to the only entrance of the complex, and Thompson was near the fence when he was shot.

Canatsy and Salinas have been placed on paid administrative leave, standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting.

The shooting occurred about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday at the apartment complex in the 2600 block of Don Pedro Road in Ceres, less than a block east of Highway 99. Ceres police said the officers were patrolling the area because of prior illegal drug activity.

The officers were inside the single-story complex when they encountered Thompson, who ran from them. The officers chased Thompson. Multiple shots were then fired.

Officers provided him medical aid, but Thompson succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say they found the hand torch near Thompson.

Police said Thompson had an extensive criminal history and was a wanted parolee sought by the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Investigators from the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the shooting. Department officials also are conducting an internal investigation, which also is standard procedure.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 4:10 PM with the headline "Ceres police: Parolee pulled out hand torch when officers shot him."