From [HERE] WOODLAND, Calif. --The U.S. Department of Justice has determined there is not enough evidence to prosecute three Yolo County Sheriff’s Deputies involved in the fatal shooting of a Woodland man.
Sgt. Dale Johnson along with Deputies Hernan Oviedo and Hector Bautista were involved in the shooting death of Luis Gutierrez-Navarro, 26, in April 2009. The shooting happened on the East Gum Avenue and Highway 113 overpass in Woodland. The Sheriff’s investigation found that Gutierrez-Navarro had methamphetamine in his system and threatened officers with a knife.
That was when the deputies felt in danger and fired the fatal shots. Gutierrez-Navarro turned away from the deputies as the officers where firing their weapons, hitting him in the back.
The investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice is the fourth independent investigation into the case. The latest probe backs the findings from the Woodland Police Department, Yolo County District Attorney’s Office and the California Attorney General.
Wednesday the U.S. Department of Justice released a statement saying, “The FBI devoted significant time and resources to complete painstaking analysis of the evidence developed during the investigation.” The FBI says they reviewed witness statements, crime scene evidence, and medical and forensic reports. “After careful and a thorough review, a team of experienced federal prosecutors determined the evidence was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The case has divided the Woodland Community. There have been several protests surrounding the case from civil rights groups.
Sheriff Ed Prieto believes it’s time for the Woodland community to move on, “It is my belief that many individuals and organizations are using this unfortunate incident for their own personal agenda. I'm personally tired of it. I'm tired of defending our officers, law enforcement. We did what we needed to do and we did it appropriately."
The sheriff said the U.S. Department of Justice investigations supports what he believes, the officers did nothing wrong. “If this would have happened to a citizen saving another citizens life, that person would have been a hero."
The family of Gutierrez-Navarro plans to speak during a public demonstration Friday. They will at the Yolo County Courthouse along with several civil rights groups.