CHP pays $4 million to settle lawsuit

Department ignored an officer’s behavior before murder-suicide, the complaint says.

The California Highway Patrol has reportedly settled a lawsuit for nearly $4 million regarding an offduty officer’s murder-suicide.

The suit stemmed from a September 2018 incident in the Amador County town of Martell, when off-duty Officer Brad Wheat used his service firearm to shoot and kill his estranged wife, Mary Wheat, and wound her boyfriend, Trae deBeaubien, before killing himself.

DeBeaubien filed a lawsuit in 2019 alleging that the CHP and mental health professionals had ignored behavior that indicated Wheat’s intentions to harm him and Mary Wheat.

Stewart Katz, DeBeaubien’s attorney, said the settlement with CHP totaled $3.95 million; the settlement with the counselors remains confidential.

In a statement read by Katz, DeBeaubien said he “was glad to be finally able to put this case behind him.”

“CHP finally did the right thing in admitting they messed up. Hopefully, the CHP reevaluates the procedures of officers with mental issues,” DeBeaubien said in his statement.

The CHP declined to comment.

In August 2018, Mary Wheat’s brother saw Brad Wheat leave his home, apparently intoxicated and angry, according to the complaint. At this point, the couple had been separated for months, and Brad Wheat knew of his wife’s relationship with DeBeaubien.

Wheat told the brother he was going to where his wife was staying for a “confrontation.” The brother contacted 911 and the rest of his family to warn them of the situation.

Wheat entered the home where his wife was staying with DeBeaubien, who was not present, and confronted her. He left before deputies arrived.

CHP officials learned of the incident and met with Wheat, finding him to be “unfit for patrol duty on the basis of his assaultive behavior,” the complaint said. As a result, he was placed on desk duty, and his service weapon was taken away.

However, Wheat was given back his firearm and returned to full duty a few days before the fatal shooting.

Less than a week before the shooting, Wheat reportedly broke the windows at a home where his wife and DeBeaubien were living. The homeowner reported the incident to police, who identified Wheat as a suspect and informed CHP of his behavior.

The CHP took no actions against Wheat, the complaint said.

On Sept. 3, 2018, DeBeaubien and Mary Wheat were at a nutrition shop owned and operated by DeBeaubien when Brad Wheat began banging on the back door, then reportedly drove around to the front of the building, left his car and shot out one of the store’s front windows with his service weapon.

He entered the store through the window and began chasing and firing at DeBeaubien, shooting him in the shoulder, the complaint said.

DeBeaubien managed to tackle Wheat, who dropped his firearm. Mary Wheat picked up the gun.

Brad Wheat eventually escaped from DeBeaubien and ran out the front window after his wife. DeBeaubien lost sight of them but heard the fatal shots.

The incident was captured on video by a bystander who had been sleeping in his car and was awakened by the gunshots.