MADERA – The Madera County District Attorney announced Monday that he has completed his investigation of the June 16th officer involved shooting of a mentally ill suspect that posed a threat to the safety of the general public and police officers at his mother’s home.
The shooting happened around 6:45 pm. that Friday evening near Wessmith Way and Lake Street in Madera. Officer’s say Sergio Manuel Valdovinos (32) broke into a resident's car and was smashing the windows of other vehicles when they arrived. He then forcefully swung a four-foot long shovel handle at police officers several times while holding a “shield” before a Madera Police Officer fired his department issued handgun eight times at the suspect.
Valdovinos, who’s mother claims suffered from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and dementia, was shot while officers were attempting to take the man into custody. Over 50 prior calls for service at the residence show police were familiar with Valdovinos for one incident or another. His mother told Fresno television reporters, “"They know Sergio, they're familiar with my son."
District Attorney David Linn stated, “I've reviewed the investigative reports, videos, diagrams, physical evidence, and other materials such as the Madera County Sheriff Coroner’s report, a report from Central Valley Toxicology, and interviews of the parties associated with the June 16th shooting and conclude that the Madera Police Department Officer acted in reasonable self defense and he, therefore, bears no criminal liability for his actions.”
Valdovinos had a lengthy arrest record which included assault, assault and battery with serious bodily harm, attempted rape, rape, burglary and multiple threats to terrorize for which he was sentenced to several years in state prison. At the time of his death he had a toxic level of methamphetamine in his system.
This was the second officer-involved shooting in Madera in a two week period in June. Police say the last shooting involving a Madera police officer prior to the June 5 incident was over a decade ago. The Madera County District Attorney also cleared the Madera Police officer involved in that shooting and that suspect was also under the influence of methamphetamine.
The District Attorney will take no further action on this matter as the case has been now closed. As of now, no civil action has been brought against the city of Madera regarding this incident.
