ESCALON OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING

ESCALON OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING

Source: San Joaquin Sheriff Department.

06/05/19 at 7:40 p.m. the Sheriff Department’s dispatch center received a call from a woman who said her Ex was making threats to murder her and her children.

The Sheriff Department asked the Escalon Police Department for assistance in responding to the 18000 block of Brennan Rd., in Escalon as we had an extended time of arrival.

Their officers responded and while waiting for Deputies to arrive they were confronted by the Ex who had a shotgun. The suspect fired the shotgun at officers and fearing for their safety the officers returned fire striking the suspect.

The officers rendered medical aid to the suspect who was later transported to a local hospital were he died from his injuries. He has been identified as 39-year-old Matthew Freeseha Jr.

The Escalon Police Department Officers that were part of the officer involved shooting were mandated to attend a critical incident stress debrief and were also placed on three days of paid administrative leave.

The involved officers include:

Gustavo Flores- 20 years with the Escalon Police Department

Vincent Quilici- 4 months with the Escalon Police Department

Neither officer have been in an officer involved shooting prior.

A county wide Protocol Investigation has been invoked and includes the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, Escalon Police Department, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Justice.