May 18, 2021 – Ventura County, Ca.
Located in the northeastern part of Ventura County, Simi Valley is notable for a residential population that includes a large percentage of public safety, police, and fire professionals. If you need a cop, just move in to Simi Valley. Your neighbors are likely to be sworn officers.
That demographic verity was apparently overlooked by 50-year-old Simi Valley resident Douglas Macias late on the night of May 13th . According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Beau Rodriguez, it was at approximately 10:30 p.m. when local Simi Valley Police Patrol units were alerted to “a DUI driver in the area.” It didn’t take them long to spot Macias’ vehicle, and they proceeded to conduct a traffic stop.
Once his vehicle came to a halt, however, Macias alighted from his vehicle “while holding a large pair of gardening shears.” Apparently he wasn’t interested in trimming hedges that night, as he then “confronted police and challenged them to shoot him.” At that point, additional patrol units rolled up to the scene, but Macias was undaunted as he “continued to approach with the shears.”
With no clear alternative to controlling Macias, officers then fired a Taser, striking Macias and lighting him up with an electrical charge which “stopped him from advancing further.” Macias was then subdued, taken into custody, and transported to Simi Valley Hospital for medical evaluation.
Once medically cleared, he was transported to Ventura County Jail where he was booked on multiple felony charges that included assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest with force, brandishing a deadly weapon to a peace officer, and possession of metamphetamine. He remains in custody with his bail set at $50,000.
