SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The Santa Barbara County District Attorney has sent a letter to California Highway Patrol, saying that the officer involved shooting involving Santa Maria resident Michael Ledesma was justified.
Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley sent out a news release, saying that the shooting of Michael Ledesma "used an appropriate amount of force" under the given circumstances.
Officials say Ledesma now being charged with Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer, Assault Upon a Peace Officer, Assault With Personal Use of Deadly Weapon, and Child Abuse. He also is being charged with the special allegations of Use of Deadly Weapon and Street Terrorism for being associated with a street gang.
Ledesma was stopped by CHP last July just west of Los Alamos after his girlfriend he was riding in a car with called 911 and said she and her one year old child in the back seat of the car felt threatened by Ledesma, who the girlfriend said was holding a knife and talking about suicide while driving.
CHP says when Ledesma was stopped by an officer, Ledesma got out of his car and threatened the officer with the knife, ignoring commands to drop the knife. The CHP officer shot Ledesma.
Ledesma has already made one court appearance in October and pleaded not guilty. A preliminary hearing for Ledesma with the new charges is set for January 16th.
