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On January 20, 2021, a male driver was killed following a police pursuit in Fontana, California. Fontana Police Department officers attempted to stop a vehicle in connection with an ongoing investigation. The driver did not stop. Police escalated a pursuit through Rialto and Rancho Cucamonga until the vehicle exited the 210 Freeway at Beech Avenue and collided with another vehicle occupied by a man and a woman. The male occupant of the struck vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, while the female passenger and the pursued driver were hospitalized with injuries.

https://www.sbcounty.gov/uploads/SBCFire/documents/NewsClips/2021/01/20210122.NC.pdf?

On 01/20/2021, Fresno police assisted a state parole agent who requested help locating Frank Gonzales after concerns were raised about a removed ankle monitor. Officers located Gonzales behind a business near Kings Canyon Road and Maple Avenue. According to police, officers approached him and an encounter occurred during which Gonzales was holding a metal object. Officers opened fire and shot Gonzales. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The shooting was placed under investigation, and no criminal charges against officers were announced at the time of reporting.

https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/authorities-id-fresno-sex-offender-parolee-shot-and-killed-by-officer-during-confrontation/

On 01/18/2021, Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies attempted a traffic stop shortly after 10 p.m. Police said the driver did not stop, and deputies escalated a pursuit that continued for nearly fifteen minutes before the vehicle crashed near Hurley Way and Cal Expo Drive outside the Cal Expo grounds. After the crash, deputies attempted to get Robert Stephen Calderon to exit the vehicle. Police said he remained inside and did not comply with commands. Deputies broke a rear window and deployed a police dog into the vehicle. Authorities reported the dog was shot and killed during the encounter, after which deputies opened fire and shot Calderon. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The shooting was placed under investigation, and no charges against deputies were announced at the time of reporting.

https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/cal-expo-police-incident-sacramento/103-04aff833-e0aa-4537-8408-cdef1c2db6b3

California Highway Patrol attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding. The driver did not stop, and officers escalated a high-speed pursuit on the 405 Freeway. Near the Roscoe Boulevard exit in North Hills, the vehicle crashed and caught fire. The driver died at the scene. A CHP officer was injured and transported to the hospital.

https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/01/15/chp-pursuit-ends-in-fatal-fiery-crash-on-405-freeway-in-north-hills/
https://www.dailynews.com/2021/01/15/1-killed-in-crash-during-chp-pursuit-in-north-hills/
https://abc7.com/pursuit-crash-fiery-collision-roscoe-blvd/9695357/

On 01/15/2021 at approximately 8:15 p.m., Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of gunfire near Ranger Way and Rampart Drive in Carmichael. Upon arrival, deputies found a sheriff’s officer suffering from a gunshot wound. They also found Kershawn Geiger, who had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities reported that gunfire occurred during an encounter between an officer and Geiger. The injured officer was transported for medical treatment. The shooting was placed under investigation, and no charges against the officer were announced at the time of reporting.

https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2021/01/16/suspects-outstanding-carmichael-officer-shooting/
https://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-county-sheriff-deputy-shot-carmichael/35235045

On January 14, 2021, a man was killed in a fiery crash on the 405 Freeway near Roscoe Boulevard in Van Nuys during a police chase. The California Highway Patrol attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver did not stop. The pursuit ended when the car crashed and caught fire. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/high-speed-chase-ends-with-fiery-fatal-wreck-on-405-freeway-in-van-nuys/

On 01/13/2021, Visalia police officers responded to reports of a robbery at a bank. A patrol officer later located a vehicle believed by police to be connected to the incident and initiated a traffic stop near South Court Street and West Beech Avenue. Police stated that Joshua Van Machado exited the vehicle during the stop. According to police accounts, officers believed he was holding a handgun. Officers reported that commands were given for him to drop the weapon. Police said officers then opened fire, shooting and killing Van Machado. The shooting was placed under investigation, and no charges against officers were announced at the time of reporting.

https://abc30.com/ois-officer-invovled-shooting-visalia-bank-robbery-shot/9628096/
https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/2021/01/13/visalia-police-officer-involved-shooting-bank-robbery-investigation/4145454001/

On 01/13/2021, Kern County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a domestic violence assault. Deputies reported a man left in a vehicle before deputies arrived and deputies later located the vehicle. Deputies reported the man did not follow directions during contact and deputies chased him on foot. Deputies reported they heard a gunshot, found the man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and he died at the scene. The sheriff’s office later identified him as Diante Nettles, 43.

https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/suspect-dies-from-self-inflicted-gunshot-wound-after-running-away-from-officers
https://www.bashamfuneralcare.com/obituaries/Diante-Nettles?obId=42026552
https://fatalencounters.org/people/diante-nettles/

On 01/10/2021 at approximately 4:08 p.m., Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were patrolling in Altadena when a woman flagged them down and reported that she had been stabbed. Deputies then contacted a man nearby who was holding a knife. During the encounter, deputies opened fire, shooting and killing Allen Mirzayan. Mirzayan was pronounced dead at the scene. The stabbing victim was transported for medical treatment. The deputy involved shooting was placed under investigation, and no charges against deputies were announced at the time of reporting.

https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2021/01/10/1-wounded-in-deputy-involved-shooting-in-altadena-no-law-enforcement-injuries-reported/
https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/deputies-fatally-shoot-man-in-altadena-after-woman-flagged-them-down/
https://abc7.com/altadena-shooting-deputy-involved-stabbing-victim-flagged-down/9585587/

On 01/09/2021, just after 9:30 a.m., deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from a residence on Sunburst Road in Victorville reporting unknown individuals attempting to break into the home. The caller was Betty Francois, age 91. Deputies arrived and Francois exited the home holding a shotgun. Deputies issued commands for her to put the firearm down. According to authorities, Francois did not comply and the firearm was pointed toward deputies. A deputy opened fire, shooting and killing her. Later reporting stated that Francois was blind and deaf. The shooting was placed under investigation and no charges against deputies were announced at the time of reporting. The names of the officers were never released.

https://www.unionleader.com/news/crime/blind-deaf-91-year-old-woman-shot-dead-by-deputies-victim-related-to-nh-lawmaker/article_bb5b0e5e-9a61-5bae-99df-cea1a17cb632.html
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/01/09/sheriff-deputy-fatally-shoots-91-year-old-woman-victorville/6604606002/

Police alleged that the driver, identified as 38-year-old Daniel Alvarado Jr., produced a gun. At least one officer opened fire and killed Alvarado. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau is leading the investigation. The identities of the officers involved have not been disclosed. The San Gabriel Police Department has not confirmed whether body cameras were used.

• https://patch.com/california/los-angeles/man-fatally-shot-san-gabriel-cops-traffic-stop-identified
• https://ktla.com/news/local-news/san-gabriel-police-fatally-shoot-man-believed-to-be-armed-during-traffic-stop/
• https://abc7.com/san-gabriel-ois-officer-involved-shooting/9327639/

On January 1, 2021, at approximately 2:30 p.m., American Canyon Police attempted to stop a motorcyclist near the city limits for reckless riding. The motorcyclist, identified as Antonio Hines, 30, of Vallejo, drove on. Police escalated a chase through Vallejo. During the chase, he rode on sidewalks, bike paths, and park walking paths. Police allegedly called off the chase at the intersection of Mini Drive and Tuolumne Street; however, a CHP air unit continued to follow the rider until Hines lost control and crashed near Hanns Park. American Canyon officers arrived shortly after the crash and attempted to render aid, but he was unresponsive. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. The Vallejo Police Department is handling the collision investigation, as the incident occurred within their jurisdiction.

https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/dirt-bike-rider-dies-vallejo-pursuit-police-chp/
https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Motorcyclist-crashes-and-dies-after-wild-chase-15841600.php