The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office has completed its review of the officer-involved shooting which occurred on May 21, 2018. This incident happened in Yucca Valley and involved the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The shooting was investigated by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
SYNOPSIS
On May 21, 2018, a female, who was the ex-girlfriend of Ray Wyatt, agreed to meet him at La Contenta Road and Yucca Trail in Yucca Valley. The female was going to return some property to Mr. Wyatt.
The female was nervous about meeting Mr. Wyatt due to a recent domestic violence incident. Thus, the female made arrangements with a friend to call the friend’s phone with her cell phone and allow the friend to listen in on the conversation.
While the female and Mr. Wyatt were meeting, the friend heard the female and Mr. Wyatt arguing. The female said something about Mr. Wyatt having a gun. The friend hung up the phone and called 911 at about 8:19 pm.
Deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Morongo Basin Station were dispatched to the location where Mr. Wyatt and the female were meeting. Their dispatcher told the deputies there was a suicidal male, possibly armed with a gun at the location.
Deputy Robert Stucki was the first deputy to arrive at the location. Deputy Stucki saw the female and Mr. Wyatt standing near two blue trucks. As the headlights from Deputy Stucki’s patrol vehicle illuminated Mr. Wyatt and the female, Mr. Wyatt pointed a gun at the female. Mr. Wyatt shot the female, who fell to the ground.
Deputy Stucki immediately exited his patrol vehicle. He fired his weapon at Mr. Wyatt, who ran into the desert. Deputy Stucki used his radio to notify the other deputies that shots had been fired at his location.
Deputy Stucki retrieved his Mini-14 rifle from his patrol vehicle. Deputy Tyler Detrinidad arrived, ran to the female, and dragged her body back towards the patrol vehicles. Deputy Stucki provided “cover” with his rifle.
In this particular situation, the term “cover” refers to Deputy Stucki pointing his rifle anywhere Mr. Wyatt may suddenly appear and shoot Mr. Wyatt, if necessary, to keep Deputy Detrinidad from becoming injured during his rescue of the female.
Sergeant Mauricio Hurtado, Deputy Roger Alfaro, and Deputy Michael Sellers arrived at the scene. The deputies formulated a plan to enter the desert and begin searching for Mr. Wyatt.
Deputy Detrinidad remained with the female.
Deputy Stucki saw Mr. Wyatt behind a bush. The deputies yelled out, “Sheriff’s department.” Mr. Wyatt ran from the deputies, who chased after him. Mr. Wyatt was holding a gun in his hand.
The deputies ordered Mr. Wyatt to show them his hands, but he refused. Mr. Wyatt raised the gun towards the deputies. The deputies fired their weapons at Mr. Wyatt, who ran away from them again. The deputies lost sight of Mr. Wyatt.
A short time later, the deputies saw Mr. Wyatt running but then fall to the ground. The deputies approached Mr. Wyatt, who was lying face down. After handcuffing Mr. Wyatt, they rolled his body over. A black handgun was located near Mr. Wyatt’s body.
Mr. Wyatt had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The deputies performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (“CPR”) on Mr. Wyatt. Fire department personnel arrived at the scene and treated Mr. Wyatt, but he was declared deceased.
The female was transported to the Hi-Desert Medical Center but succumbed to her injuries.
CONCLUSION
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department investigated this shooting. A review of the investigation, reports, evidence, and statements was completed by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.
Based on the facts presented in the reports and the applicable law, our office concluded Sergeant Hurtado, Deputy Alfaro, Deputy Seller, and Deputy Stucki’s use of lethal force was a proper exercise of his rights of self-defense and defense of others, and therefore their actions were legally justified.
WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW
By providing a thorough explanation to the community regarding the review of officer-involved shootings, it is the intention of District Attorney Jason Anderson and the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office to maintain the community’s confidence and trust in its law enforcement officers and district attorney’s office.
Key Points of This Incident
- Mr. Wyatt requested to meet with his ex-girlfriend.
- Mr. Wyatt had a loaded firearm when he met with his ex-girlfriend.
- When deputy sheriffs arrived at the scene of the meeting, Mr. Wyatt shot his ex-girlfriend.
- Mr. Wyatt ran from the deputies when they tried to detain him.
- Mr. Wyatt refused to relinquish his firearm or follow any lawful orders given to him by the deputies.
- Mr. Wyatt’s dangerous conduct was only stopped after the deputies shot him.
Deputy sheriffs are trained for dangerous situations such as this one, and they continually update their training as new situations and techniques are identified.
Additionally, deputy sheriffs have equipment on their belts, vests, and vehicles, which they use to complete their duties.
Deputy sheriffs are expected and authorized to use the equipment to protect themselves and others from suffering injuries or death. To some, watching a deputy sheriff using physical force against another person can be upsetting or disturbing.
Deputy sheriffs prefer to use the least amount of force, whether it be their mere presence or verbal commands, to diffuse situations. However, there are situations, such as this incident, in which lethal force is necessary for the community and deputy sheriff’s safety.
In rapidly tense situations, deputies do not have a great deal of time planning, revising, or analyzing a situation, such as readers of this article. When a situation evolves, deputies must make the best decisions possible to protect and save lives in a condensed amount of time.
The community expects that the people they call upon to protect them, which is law enforcement, will not back down, be intimidated, or run scared when danger presents itself.
On May 21, 2018, Mr. Wyatt decided to possess a loaded firearm. Mr. Wyatt chose to meet his ex-girlfriend. During his meeting, Mr. Wyatt made the decision to exhibit the gun in front of the female.
When a deputy sheriff arrived at the meeting location, Mr. Wyatt decided to point the loaded firearm at the female. Mr. Wyatt chose to pull the trigger and shoot the female.
Mr. Wyatt ran from the scene after being confronted by the deputy. Mr. Wyatt chose to run into the desert, with deputy sheriffs soon afterward chasing Mr. Wyatt.
Mr. Wyatt decided to keep his firearm and ignore any orders from the deputies.
Mr. Wyatt was stopped after the deputies fired their firearms at Mr. Wyatt. Once on the ground, Mr. Wyatt was no longer a threat to the community or the deputy sheriffs.
There is an extremely high probability this deputy-involved-shooting would not have happened had the following occurred:
- Mr. Wyatt did not possess a loaded firearm.
- Mr. Wyatt did not shoot the female.
- Mr. Wyatt did not run from the deputies with the firearm.
- Mr. Wyatt had complied with the deputy’s instructions.
THE OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING REVIEW UNIT
The district attorney’s office has always reviewed officer-involved shootings in San Bernardino County.
Upon taking office, District Attorney Jason Anderson wanted a dedicated team of trained and experienced deputy district attorneys and investigators to review these shootings and respond to the scene of shootings.
The review unit did not respond to this shooting scene as the new team’s design, development, and protocols were still being developed.
Please visit SBCountyDA.org/ois to learn more about this team.
As the district attorney’s office, we realize the entire community is affected when force is used by the police, regardless of the situation or circumstances. Our responsibility is to ensure that all parties involved in cases such as the one involving Mr. Wyatt acted lawfully.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY PUBLIC RELEASE MEMORANDUM
View San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office Public Release Memorandum: Ray Wyatt
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