A Bakersfield Police officer was found to be legally justified in shooting a suspect back in January in self-defense.
All shots fired by Officer Clifton Ary on Jan. 24 were said to have been within department, state and federal guidelines and the officer returned to full duty in April after being on paid administrative leave.
On the evening of Jan. 24 reports of a shooting involving police officers and a suspect were made in East Bakersfield near Monterey Street and Alta Vista Drive.
Officers were in the area of Pacific and Haley Street looking for a suspect wanted in an attempted homicide from two weeks prior. Officers spotted the vehicle the suspect might be in and the vehicle sped off.
After leading police on a pursuit, 27-year-old Antonio Arturo Perez Garcia ended up crashing on the overpass of Niles Street and Alta Vista Drive, then proceeded to run.
During the foot pursuit, one officer believed the suspect pointed a gun at him but didn't know if Garcia fired. The second officer opened fire at the suspect. Garcia passed away from his wounds.
No one else was injured during this incident.
