top
South Bay
South Bay
Indybay
Indybay
Indybay
Regions
Indybay Regions North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area California United States International Americas Haiti Iraq Palestine Afghanistan
Topics
Newswire
Features
From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature

Santa Clara grand jury indicts state drug agent in shooting

by repost (AP)
A Santa Clara grand jury indicted a state drug agent on criminal charges in the case of the fatal shooting of a man who was mistaken for a fugitive.
Santa Clara grand jury indicts state drug agent in shooting

Wednesday, July 28, 2004

(07-28) 16:37 PDT SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) --

A Santa Clara grand jury indicted a state drug agent on criminal charges in the case of the fatal shooting of a man who was mistaken for a fugitive.

The panel, in a rare open proceeding, decided Wednesday to indict California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement agent Michael Walker.

Grand juries normally meet in secret to protect witnesses in ongoing investigations.

Todd Simonson, Walker's attorney, said Wednesday he did not know when the indictment would be unsealed. He said there might be an avenue for an appeal.

On Feb. 17, 2004, Walker was part of a team of state narcotics and parole agents staged in front of a house where a narcotics offender wanted on a parole violation was allegedly hiding.

Rodolfo Cardenas, 43, a friend of the fugitive, drove up to the house in a van and Walker took off after him. Walker radioed other agents that the van driver might be the fugitive, but he couldn't be certain, Deputy District Attorney Lane Liroff told the grand jury.

Walker testified before the grand jury that he fired because he thought Cardenas was wielding a gun.

A folding knife was found in one of Cardenas' pockets, and an autopsy showed Cardenas had methamphetamine in his system the day of the shooting.

graphical line

Buy The San Francisco Chronicle Get 50% off home delivery of the Chronicle for 12 weeks!
©2004 Associated Press
Add Your Comments
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!

Donate

$75.00 donated
in the past month

Get Involved

If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.

Publish

Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.

IMC Network