The Ventura County District Attorney’s office has decided not to prosecute a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy who crashed into Fillmore Starbucks while apparently suffering a seizure on December 13, 2011.

According to Deputy District Attorney Kim Gibbons Cederland had no prior accident records in his home state of Washington or California, and no misconduct was found according to “code section or a jury instruction.”

At approximately 7:07 p.m., 12 Fillmore Fire units responded to a vehicle collision at Starbucks in Fillmore at the corner of A Street and Highway 126. A Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by Michael Cederland of Pasadena, had crashed through the east wall of the business, near the drive thru, pinning several people against tables and walls. Eye witnesses said the vehicle was traveling about 50 miles per hour when it struck the building’s exterior wall. The driver identified himself as a Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputy. He stated he had fallen asleep and veered from the westbound lanes of Highway 126 (Old Telegraph Road) across the eastbound lanes, over the sidewalk, across the parking lot for approximately 100 yards, between two large Palm trees before crashing through Starbucks east wall. The vehicle traveled completely through the front lounge coming to rest against the front door and corner. Sergio Mendez, 30 of Fillmore, was pinned against the front door on the opposite side of the dining area. Mendez sustained multiple internal injuries and, during emergency surgery, succumbed to the injuries. He was pronounced deceased by the surgery physician.

Mendez was an Iraq war veteran who had enlisted in the National Guard. He was a Marine who received a Combat Action Ribbon and Presidential Unit Citation. The military veteran, who risked his life in Iraq and Kuwait, was sitting in a leather chair drinking coffee when the SUV violently crashed into Starbucks and pinned the Marine to a wall.

Two other customers, Jose Iraheta 25, of Lancaster and Thomas Michaels 73, of Piru, were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

After a year-long investigation by the DA’s office and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, it has been determined Cedarland was not at fault.

Cedarland apparently had two seizures before and after the crash, and continues to have episodes. His driver’s license was suspended but was reinstated before the crash. It was again revoked on April 10, 2012, apparently after he suffered another seizure in January 2012.