Death by Cop  2021-2025

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Wesley Gerald Klotthor

Gender : Male

Age : 32

Race : Native American

Date : 01/14/2024

Location : 800 block of Black Street

City : Santa Maria

County : Santa Barbara

State : California

Agency : Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Special Enforcement Team, California Highway Patrol and Santa Maria Police Department

Officer(s) :Nicholas Adomaitis, Michael Savey

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during domestic disturbance call

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 01/14/2024, officers from the Santa Maria Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, including its Special Enforcement Team, responded to a domestic disturbance in the 800 block of Black Street in Santa Maria, California.

The incident escalated when Wesley Gerald Klotthor, 32, fled the scene, prompting a pursuit. The chase culminated in a standoff involving multiple law enforcement agencies. During the standoff, officers Nicholas Adomaitis and Michael Savey discharged their firearms, killing Klotthor.
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Investigations into the incident, including the circumstances surrounding the pursuit and shooting, are ongoing and are being conducted by the involved agencies and independent oversight bodies.
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NUMBER OF CASUALTIES DURING THIS POLICE ENCOUNTER: 1 fatality.
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Last Update: 12/01/2024

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.santamariatimes.com/news/local/police-chase-domestic-disturbance-shooting-investigation/2024/
https://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_maria_police_standoff_fatal_shooting_reported/
https://www.ksby.com/news/local-news/multiple-agencies-involved-in-deadly-shooting-in-santa-maria