Man armed with a hatchet fatally shot after struggle with Stanislaus sheriff’s deputies
A law enforcement officer fatally shot a man who had been armed with a hatchet early Sunday after Stanislaus County sheriff’s deputies tried to take him into custody and a struggle ensued, authorities said.
According to a news release from the sheriff’s department, deputies responded to a business in the 800 block of Business Park Drive in an unincorporated area of Modesto at 4:57 a.m. The site is located off Mitchell Road near the Modesto airport.
“Once they arrived, law enforcement located a Hispanic male adult in his 40s outside of the business,” the press release reads. “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.”
Authorities said the man was armed with a hatchet, and two deputies suffered injuries. Sheriff’s Sgt. Luke Schwartz said Sunday afternoon that the exact circumstances regarding how the deputies were hurt remain under investigation.
Deputies rendered first aid and called for an ambulance, but the man was pronounced dead at an area hospital. His identity has not been released.
The deputies who were injured were taken to a hospital, where they were treated and released. The names of the involved law enforcement officers also have not yet been released, and it is not yet clear how many may have fired their weapons.
“They will be assigned to administrative duties while the criminal and internal investigations are conducted,” the release says. That is standard after an officer-involved incident. The District Attorney’s Office will conduct a parallel investigation.
Authorities ask anyone with any information on the incident to contact Detective Veronica Esquivez with the Crimes Against Persons Unit at 209-567-4466.
This story was originally published September 27, 2020 at 12:16 PM.
