BPD release body cam video of officer-involved shooting that killed suspect on White Lane
By: The Bakersfield Police Department released body cam footage of an officer-involved shooting from March 18 that left a man dead after he was reported to be armed with a possible knife, which turned out to be a screwdriver.
On March 18, in the 1500 block of White Lane, near South H Street, officers attempted to contact a man seen armed with a possible knife and behaving erratically in a business' parking lot. However, according to the footage and an earlier police press release, the man fled on foot eastbound on White Lane.
In the body camera video, officials said officers saw the man involved in an altercation with other people at the Fastrip on South H Street, before running back to the shopping center.
An officer tried to make contact with the man in the shopping center and had a failed taser deployment. Police said a foot pursuit started for about half a mile.
A second officer came into contact with the suspect in the 900 block of White Lane and, as seen in the footage, the officers shot the man after he refused to obey his commands to get on the ground. The man was struck several times and died later at the hospital. He was found with a screwdriver, according to police.
The involved officer was identified as officer B. Mouser. He has been with the department for around two years, said BPD. Mouser has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.
The suspect was later identified as Guillermo Padron Huerta, 35, of Bakersfield.
“The public has a legitimate interest in obtaining timely and accurate information about police shootings, and the Bakersfield Police Department is committed to making that information available. We will release the body worn camera footage of officers in critical incidents as soon as it is possible to do so without compromising an investigation. This is our commitment to accountability and professionalism," stated BPD Chief Greg Terry.