By John Boch via TTAG
The Napa County, California Sheriff’s Department released a deputy’s bodycam video of a fatal police-involved shooting. It happened at night when most deadly force incidents tend to happen. Fortunately, the deputy, Riley Jarecki, survived the attempted assassination and returned fire, killing her attacker.
Hernandez Morales, 48, died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. Deported three times previously, he had returned illegally yet again. However, California’s sanctuary policies prevented his fourth subsequent deportation despite multiple arrests, including for violent offenses.
Somehow, despite California’s strict gun control laws, he illegally obtained a revolver, and was carrying it (again, illegally) when Deputy Jarecki pulled him over. She had only been on the job for six months at the time of the shooting.
Watch the video, courtesy of the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.
After he rolls down the window, he says something like “Que tan?” and brings the revolver up, firing a couple of shots at Jarecki’s head.
With a steady and steel-like resolve, Jarecki calls out “Shots fired! Shots fired!” on her radio after ducking for cover. At the same time, she worked her way into a better position to engage.
Then, drawing her pistol, she assumed a good two-handed grip, and returned fire as Morales worked feverishly to start the car. And because she used her sights and good technique, her rounds were on target.
About eight or nine shots in, you can hear Mr. Morales scream “Aye! Aaayyyyye!” Mr. Morales learned first hand that trying to kill a cop can be very bad for your health.
Now, as a result of a gunfight with an illegal caught on camera, politicians in California face some tough questions about why they prohibit local authorities from cooperating with immigration authorities to deport really bad people. People like Mr. Morales.
Immigration officials said Thursday that the shooting and the man’s death could have been prevented, but California’s state law prohibited them from arresting the Mexican citizen with a long rap sheet and multiple deportations.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Hernandez Morales has been deported three times before 2011 – twice in 2007 and once again in 2010.
Since then, ICE had issued four separate detainers for him related to various arrests including suspicion of driving under the influence, battery on a peace officer and unknown probation violations.
ICE said detainers were issued to Napa County Jail in 2014, 2015 and 2016 while Sonoma County Jail received one in 2016. None of the detainers were honored by jail staff.
“This incident may have been prevented if ICE had been notified about any of the multiple times Hernandez-Morales was released from local custody over the last few years,” immigration officials said. “This is an impactful, scary example of how public safety is affected by laws or policies limiting local law enforcement agencies’ abilities to cooperate with ICE.”
As if America doesn’t have enough home-grown criminals, we have to face down illegal alien criminals as well. Just another reason to train with and carry your safety rescue tool and maintain your skill sets with it on a regular basis.
Because you never know when you could have your own Hernandez Morales moment someday.