Modesto police release names of officers in deadly shooting

Modesto police on Monday released the names of two officers involved in a fatal shooting last week and more details about the suspect they shot.

Officers Tom Fara and Brent Salyer on Thursday shot a 24-year-old man in a parking garage when the man pulled a loaded .44-caliber revolver from his waistband and failed to comply with their orders to drop the gun, police said.

The officers attempted to stop the suspect, Christopher Fletcher, for riding his bicycle on a sidewalk, said Modesto police spokeswoman Heather Graves.

Fletcher wouldn’t stop and led the officers on a brief pursuit through the alley between Tenth and Ninth streets, then into the parking garage of the Merrill Lynch building at 801 Tenth St.

Graves said the officers saw the suspect reach for the gun in his waistband and pull it out. They ordered him to drop it, police said, and both fired several shots when he didn’t.

Fletcher was shot multiple times; it’s unknown if both Fara and Salyer hit him. Witnesses reported hearing six to nine shots.

Fara is a 20-year veteran of law enforcement who has worked for the Modesto Police Department for two years. He previously worked at the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. Fara is Salyer’s training officer. Salyer is in the training program and has been an officer for eight months.

Modesto police and fire personnel performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Fletcher until an ambulance took him to a hospital, where he died.

Fletcher was released from prison in April after serving time on a domestic-violence conviction. He was released to the supervision of county probation officers under Assembly Bill 109.

Fletcher required the highest level of supervision through the Stanislaus County Probation Department and was wearing an ankle monitor at the time he was killed, Graves said.

Fara and Salyer were uninjured and have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is a standard procedure with all officer-involved shootings.

Three separate and independent investigations have been launched into the shooting. The Modesto Police Department is conducting both a criminal and administrative investigation. The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office is conducting its own review.

Investigators ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tipsters may also text information to Crime Stoppers at 274637. Just type “TIP704” along with your message.

This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 6:43 PM with the headline "Modesto police release names of officers in deadly shooting."