By Miriam Raftery
August 8, 2016 (Santee) — The man who fired arrows from a crossbow at Sheriff’s deputies in Santee and died after officers returned fire during a SWAT team incident Friday has been identified as Santee resident David Michael Moya, 31.
The Sheriff’s department has also identified the three officers involved in the shooting. Deputy Robert Kastelic is assigned to the Santee Station and has been employed as a deputy sheriff with the San Diego Sheriff's Department for 9 years. Deputy James Riggin is also assigned to the Santee Station and has been employed as a deputy sheriff with the San Diego Sheriff's Department for 3 years. Deputy Matthew Hemphill is assigned to the Lakeside Sub-Station and has been employed as a deputy sheriff with the San Diego Sheriff's Department for 9 years.
Deputies responded to a call from Moya’s mother, who reported that her son had threatened to kill her, had weapons possibly including an axe and a knife, and might have an undiagnosed mental illness. Lieutenant Greg Rylaarsdam with the Sheriff’s Homicide unit told ECM that “the mother met deputies outside and provided keys to her residence so they could contact her son inside.”
Moya refused deputies’ orders to exit the home and instead, peered around a corner and fired arrows at them from a crossbow. After more SWAT officers arrived, Moya went to an upstairs window and fired more arrows at the deputies. Deputies fired back and a robot later confirmed that Moya was dead.
Although the officers were under fire, some have questioned whether use of deadly force was necessary.
“It’s pretty clear to me that they could have elected to go with the ‘flash-bang grenade” first,” Tom Comeau, who spent 30 years in the military, wrote in an e-mail to ECM. He asked why officers didn’t try less lethal methods such as tear gas, or simply wait for Moya to run out of arrows.
But Jan Caldwell, public information officer for Sheriff Bill Gore, defended the deputies’ actions. She noted that the officers were in danger, adding that “lethal force had to be employed as an arrow can travel long distances and we were concerned for the safety of the community. This was a two-story residence and he had the advantage of elevation and position with a deadly weapon.” Caldwell said that using tear gas “may have only further angered him and sent him from the structure, into the neighborhood with a bow/arrows, perhaps an axe or knives, and/or guns.”
Neighbors were asked to shelter in place in their homes during the stand-off.
10 News has reported that Moya posted “kill cops” and other hate speech and threats directed at law enforcement on social media earlier Friday morning—the same day that slain San Diego Police Officer Jonathan DeGuzman was laid to rest.
Comments
Details emerge in Santee SWAT standoff
Wait for the suspect run out of arrows?!?
The Militarization of Police
Ms. Moya said her son may have mental health problems and his postings seem to verify that. And the cops spokesman is going to support the officers actions but there must be a better way that avoids the death of this man.
https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police-practic...