Jaime Valdez Died After Being Shot By Fontana Police Officers At Home Along Big Sur Street

FONTANA, CALIFORNIA (November 16, 2023) – A man identified as Jaime Valdez has died in a Fontana police shooting after a domestic disturbance at a home on Big Sur Street.

San Bernardino County officials are saying that the incident began around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Fontana police said that they got reports about a man making threats to family members.

Officers arrived at the scene and found Jaime Valdez. Not long after they made contact with the man officers opened fire.

Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the man. Despite life-saving measures, Jaime Valdez was pronounced dead at the scene.

A full investigation remains ongoing a this time.

 

Liability For Fontana Police Shootings

Despite years of reforms, police shootings remain a common occurrence across the United States. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, “More than four in ten people treated for non-fatal gunshot wounds from a police encounter were diagnosed with a mental health condition, an alcohol- or substance-related disorder, or both.” There are a number of steps that police departments should take in order to reduce police shootings.

• All officers should be well-trained in de-escalation techniques. These strategies are particularly important when officers are dealing with suspects who may be in the midst of a mental health crisis.
• Being a police officer can be extremely stressful. It is important that officers also have access to mental health resources.
• All officers should be required to wear body cameras when they are dealing with members of the public.
• Police departments should create and enforce use-of-force policies.

Police officers tend to have a great deal of leeway in how they perform their job duties. But at no point are officers allowed to use excessive force. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of any statute, law or ordinance, causes a citizen of the United States to be deprived of their rights secured by the constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law.There are a number of ways that a police officer may have acted improperly and contributed to a suspect’s death.

• Police officers may have failed to de-escalate an encounter with a suspect.
• Police officers may have failed to follow police protocol for dealing with mentally ill suspects.
• Police officers may have shot a suspect attempting to flee.
• Police officers may have shot a suspect who did not pose a danger to anyone.

Police shootings are often highly preventable. They are much more likely to occur with officers that are inexperienced. Lethal force should always be an absolute measure of last resort, but far too often this is not the case. The family of any person that died in a police shooting may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know if police officers acted improperly.

 

Investigating Fontana Police Shootings

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of  Jaime Valdez. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to authorities. There needs to be some transparency about what happened for the sake of the victim’s family.

Do you need more information about a Fontana police shooting? Our team of civil rights advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We focus entirely on helping people who have been harmed by police abuses of power. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free investigation into any instance of excessive force we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.