On October 6, 2010 at approximately 11:50 am officers of the Santa Paula Police Department were dispatched to a Family Disturbance call in the 400 block of N. 10th Street. The resident of the house was reporting a family member (subsequent investigation revealed the subject was the former stepson to the resident) who did not live at the residence was in the garage refusing to leave. She expressed a fear for her safety due to erratic behavior the subject was displaying.

Senior Officer Scott Varner (a six-year veteran of the police department) and Officer Walter Harper (two-year veteran) arrived and found Phillip Garcia Guevara, 44 years old, of Santa Paula in the garage armed with a large pair of shears (blade length of 6 inches). Both officers are members of the agency’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) with Senior Officer Varner serving as the team’s supervisor. Both officers also described Mr. Guevara as displaying erratic behavior.

After numerous attempts to convince Mr. Guevara to drop the weapon, he took actions that placed both officers in immediate danger. Senior Officer Varner discharged two shots from his firearm, striking Mr. Guevara twice in the lower torso. With the arrival of additional officers Mr. Guevara was disarmed. The Santa Paula Fire Department provided medical assistance at the scene and he was transported first to Santa Paula Hospital, and was subsequently transferred to Ventura County Medical Center.

With the assistance of the Ventura County District Attorney’s office, both an in-depth criminal investigation of the incident as well as an administrative review of the officer’s use of force was initiated. Both inquiries are continuing as of this date. At the time, both officers were placed on paid Administrative Leave; since that time both officers have returned to full duty.

Stephen MacKinnon
Chief of Police