Yuma officer cleared in fatal shooting

November domestic violence call led to incident

A Yuma police officer will not be charged in the fatal shooting of an armed 51-year-old man in November during a response to a domestic violence call, according to the Yuma County Attorney’s Office.

Officer Sabino Saucedo, in what is standard procedure for officers involved in a shooting, has been on administrative leave since the Nov. 24 shooting which left Steve Steenhard, an adult surveillance officer with the Yuma County Probation Department dead.

In a three-page ruling issued on Friday, Yuma County attorney Jon Smith ruled Steenhard failed to follow officers commands and that the use of force had been necessary to save the life of a police officer.

“Specifically, A.R.S. 13-410 applies this standard to the actions of law enforcement officers while performing the duties of their jobs,” Smith wrote. “Accordingly, we conclude that the actions of Ofc. Saucedo were justified in this matter.”

Sgt. Lori Franklin, a spokesperson for the Yuma Police Department, said Saucedo has been cleared to return to active duty as of Tuesday.

At approximately 9:21 p.m., Yuma police officers Saucedo and Aguirrebarrenas responded to a domestic violence call at a residence located in the 3500 block of West 12th Place.

According to information released by the county attorney’s office, when Aguirrebarrenas arrived on scene, he parked his vehicle and walked up to an open garage door at the residence, where he saw Steenhard.

Aguirrebarrenas verbally ordered Steenhard to come out of the garage, but he refused. Saucedo had not yet arrived on scene. Also, the inside of the garage and the driveway area in front of the home appeared to have been well lit and all of the officers involved were in full uniform.

At the time, Steenhard was standing somewhat behind a refrigerator, but also by an open gun safe that had weapons visible inside of it. Upon noticing this, Aguirrebarrenas drew his weapon and began ordering Steenhard to show his hands and come out of the garage.

When Steenhard failed to comply with his commands, Aguirrebarrenas began backing down the driveway in an attempt to find cover. It was at this moment when Saucedo arrived and saw his fellow officer with his weapon drawn.

In his statement to the county attorney’s office, Saucedo stated that Steenhard was hiding behind the refrigerator and that he drew his weapon when he saw the man reach into the gun safe.

In an audio recording provided to the county attorney’s office by Yuma police, Aguirrebarrenas is heard shouting, “Step away, come out now!” It then sounds as if Saucedo is letting Aguirrebarrenas know he is on scene.

Aguirrebarrenas is again heard shouting, “Step away now ... put your hands up.” Immediately afterwards Saucedo yells, “Drop it, drop it, dude,” while Aguirrebarrenas is again heard yelling, “Put it down,” followed by, “Get back, get back, get back.”

Seconds later, Aguirrebarrenas is heard in a low voice, “He has a gun,” followed by a loud, “Get back!” Saucedo is then heard yelling, “He has a gun. He has a gun.”

Six seconds later Aguirrebarrenas is heard shouting, “Put your hands up now, sir. Put up your hands!” Immediately afterwards a gunshot is heard followed by, “Shots fired, shots fired ... put your hands up,” and, “Where is he at, where’s he at?”

The approximate time that lapsed from when Aguirrebarrenas can be heard and the sound of the gunshot is 23 seconds.

Both officers stated that they saw Steenhard reach into the gun safe. Saucedo stated that he feared Steenhard was going to shoot Aguirrebarrenas so he fired a single shot, which struck the refrigerator and then Steenhard.

Initially neither officer knew Steenhard had been hit, but when they were able to get close to him, a black semi-automatic handgun was found near him, which Aguirrebarrenas later described as the weapon Steenhard had pulled from the gun safe. An empty black holster was also located in the vicinity.

Steenhard was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Neither Yuma police officer was injured in the incident.