The Alameda County District Attorney's Office has determined that no criminal charges will be filed against two Pleasanton police officers involved in the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Cody Chavez in February 2022. This decision, announced yesterday, follows a 10-month investigation into the incident during which Chavez was killed after approaching police with a knife during a standoff. According to the Pleasanton Weekly, the two officers, Brian Jewell, and Mario Guillermo, were found to be justified in their use of lethal force in defense of others and will not face charges.
DA Pamela Price, whose office's Public Accountability Unit (PAU) reviewed the incident, concluded that while the death of Mr. Chavez was tragic, there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers' actions were criminal. Furthermore, the PAU's investigation called attention to lessons that should be learned from the Pleasanton Police Department's response, explicitly highlighting an "unnecessary escalation of force" and inconsistencies with departmental policies related to de-escalation and mental health crisis interventions. These findings reflect a complex scenario that unfolded when police responded to a domestic violence incident involving Chavez, who was alone and unarmed and likely under the influence of alcohol and experiencing mental health issues, as per the Alameda County District Attorney's Office.
In an earlier statement, Price had been critical of the shooting, suggesting an independent investigation was needed. She noted, as cited by Pleasanton Weekly, "Witness videos contradict the story told by lawyers for the police officers involved in the shooting. It is clear that an independent investigation needs to be implemented." Her comments came amid her primary election campaign and in the context of growing attention to police accountability.
The investigation was conducted under the now-former district attorney Nancy O'Malley but concluded after Price took office. The release of the DA's report coincided with the revelation that during a standoff that lasted about three hours, Chavez, who was inside an apartment and armed with a knife, communicated through text messages, acknowledging the police presence and expressing a fatalistic prediction: "They gonna kick this door in and kill me," he wrote. While the officers attempted various non-lethal tactics, including the deployment of a robot and a drone, deadly force became the ultimate response when Chavez ran toward officers while brandishing a knife, as per Pleasanton Weekly.
Though Chavez's death marked the third fatal police shooting by Pleasanton police officers since 2015, all of which have been deemed justifiable homicide by the DA's office, the incident has once more ignited discussions on police tactics and crisis management. Pleasanton Police Department Lt. Erik Silacci offered sincere condolences to everyone affected by this event, underscoring the department's prioritization of life's sanctity in the wake of the PAU's findings and the OIS team's report concluding the officers' actions complied with California law.
