- Archives

Bolstered by the recommendations of the 2004 Monterey County Grand Jury report, a civil rights group intends to move its pursuit of justice in a Salinas police shooting case forward. Despite absolution from the county district attorney, who ruled that a police officer was justified in using lethal force in the May 16, 2003, shooting of Robert Anthony Carrillo, questions remain. The grand jury thought so, as still do members of the public. Perhaps another look at the case at a higher level of the justice system is in order. Maybe it can finally determine if the conclusions reached in the death of a Salinas resident at the hands of police were appropriate. Either way, the grand jury seems to have heard the voices urging further investigation in the Carrillo case. The grand jury went back 15 years and looked into several incidents where deadly force was used against mentally ill people. Among its recommendations was that a county mental health professional be on hand to assist police when needed. Members of the Civil Rights Coalition and the Salinas Valley League of United Latin American Citizens applauded the grand jury's conclusion that Carrillo's death was preventable. Carrillo's family maintains he was mentally ill when a Salinas police officer fatally shot him after the suspect had stabbed a police dog. The K-9, Klief, died the next day. After an internal inquiry by Salinas police, the district attorney concluded the officer was justified in shooting Carrillo. Carrillo's family is suing the Salinas Police Department. [more]