Samuel Arredondo

Date: 1/11/2023          Location: Joshua Tree, CA   FACTORS (1,2,5,10,19)       

Name: Samuel Arredondo                             

Criminal History/Involved: Unknown. / Yes,            

Mental Illness: Unknown, however whether he was under the influence of alcohol/narcotics or was emotionally disturbed, Arredondo’s actions are emblematic of someone committing suicide by cop.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: Latino/Male/Unknown.

Officer(s) involved: San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputies Aimee Coakley and Tyler Gilbert

What prompted the initial contact with police? At around 8:25 p.m. on January 11, 2023, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputies Aimee Coakley and Tyler Gilbert responded to a 911 call of a woman reporting a man was breaking into her house. Upon arriving at the incident location, the deputies observed the man, Samuel Arredondo, “had broken a window and was trying to enter the home.”

Actions taken by subject towards police: Instead of surrendering when confronted by the deputies, Arredondo instead “pointed what deputies believed was a weapon at them.”

Reactions by the police: Fearing Arredondo was indeed pointing a firearm at them, the “deputies fired at the suspect,” killing him.

Outcome of investigation into the fatal police incident: The incident is currently under investigation by the California Department of Justice.

What could the subject have done that day to still be alive today? Arredondo could still be alive today if he: did not commit a burglary causing 911 to be called and law enforcement officers respond; complied with the deputies and peacefully surrendered; did not point something at the deputies causing them to believe he was armed and their lives were in danger.

Miscellaneous: There is remarkably little reporting on Arredondo’s criminal/addiction/mental illness history.

Justified Use of Deadly Force? YES, observing Arredondo point what they believed was a firearm at them while committing a burglary, the deputies reasonably feared for their lives and justifiably used deadly force to stop the perceived threat.