DA clears officers in fatal shooting
Friday afternoon the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office announced the shooting of John Karl Sieger, 51, by the Eureka Police Department on July 23, 2020. was “legally justified.”
A news release from the office said officers’ actions comply with California Penal Code Section 835a, which includes a section stating deadly force may be used “only when necessary in defense of human life”.
“Once Mr. Sieger refused their commands and pointed his gun at them, the officers reasonably believed they were in imminent danger of being killed or suffering great bodily injury,” the release states.
Multiple calls to Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson were not returned by the publishing deadline.
The investigation was carried out by a team including members from the Eureka Police Department, the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department, the Arcata Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and the Fortuna Police Department.
Additional resources for the investigation were provided by the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office and the bureau of forensic services of the California Department of Justice.
The incident began on the eve
ning of July 23, 2020. An acquaintance of Sieger called 911 after receiving a picture of a whiskey bottle and what appeared to be a handgun and told the dispatcher Sieger was making “suicidal statements.”
“He is extremely intoxicated but he is talking … very depressed,” the acquaintance told the emergency dispatcher in audio released from the original 911 call for help. “I’m afraid he is going to take his own life.”
Sieger, a military veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, was believed to be at his home near the Eureka Mall.
At around 6:16 p.m., a negotiator from the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services arrived on the site after Eureka police requested a negotiation team. The negotiator and EPD attempted to speak with Sieger via telephone.
“Officers attempted to make contact via telephone but the call was ended quickly,” Watson said to the Times-Standard last year.
At 7:49 p.m., three shots were fired from the backyard. An officer observing Sieger informed his colleagues the man had a loaded gun in his possession.
At 8:23 p.m., Sieger left this backyard, encountering officers shortly. Sieger was ordered to show his hands and did not comply.
Video shows Sieger pointing his firearm toward a police vehicle, near three officers. Four officers fired their weapons.
The officers who fired were listed as Sgt. Jon Omey and officers Patrick Bishop, Andrew Endsley and Brian Wilson. All four of the officers who fired weapons were wearing body cameras, although not all of them were functioning for the several hours of the incident, as Omey’s camera lost power.
The DA release points to the difficult nature of responding to cases involving individuals with mental health issues.
“When law enforcement can reasonably assume that others are not in danger, they can exercise the option to disengage from a person struggling with mental health issues. The investigation of this case revealed that EPD personnel were considering that option — until Mr. Sieger discharged his firearm in the backyard,” the release states.
“At that point, given Mr. Sieger’s mental state and proximity to neighbors, the safety of others could not be assured and EPD remained on scene, while continuously attempting to peacefully resolve the situation. The District Attorney appreciates that EPD’s efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution included quickly involving a mental health expert, and the rapid response of the mental health expert to a crisis situation,” the release continues.