Suspect Became Combative and fought With Officers
SALINAS—36-years ago, movie director John Carpenter introduced us to one of the scariest movies in the world – it pitted a supernatural killer against a neighborhood babysitter. That movie has been giving us nightmares ever since, thank God it was not real life. Or is it?
On Halloween night, the movie became all-to-real to one Salinas resident and her family. She called the Salinas Police Department at about 10 pm and reported that her 35-year-old husband attacked her with a screwdriver and a knife. She believed that he was going to kill her.
She stated that she was safe for the moment because she and the family had evacuated the house. She also told police that her husband had a history with cocaine abuse and was under the influence of the drug.
Several officers responded to her residence on the 400 block of Madeira Avenue in East Salinas. Once they arrived they made contact with her husband, 35-year-old Jaime Garcia, who became combative with them.
A struggle ensued, and a one point one of the officers used a Taser on Garcia, who continued to resist, fought with officers and did not comply. At one point during the struggle it became apparent that Garcia was going into medical distress.
“The Five Officers, who were involved in trying to subdue Garcia were put on leave.” A Salinas Police spokesperson wrote in a press release, “Two officers did sustain minor injuries during the struggle.”
A Paramedic Unit that was staged outside was summoned and they immediately began lifesaving procedures. Garcia was transported a local hospital but all efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. An autopsy was later performed to determine the exact cause of death. There were no significant physical injuries, including from the Taser, that led to his death, according to the report. A spokesman said that toxicology results, due in several weeks, may point to a better explanation.
