Tulare County Sheriff says deputy shot, killed unhoused suspect in self-defense

PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KFSN) -- An probe continues astatine the Porterville constabulary section aft a Tulare County sheriff lawman was progressive successful a shooting that killed 49-year-old Calixto Felix Mendoza.

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux says assemblage camera footage shows Mendoza charging astatine instrumentality enforcement with a woody rod successful his manus and the lawman doing what helium could to de-escalate the situation:

"Body cam video is genuinely important due to the fact that it's a existent depiction of what's really taking place. Sometimes, erstwhile radical perceive this, they truly don't consciousness the interaction that the Officer goes through. When you spot the video, it justifies the actions of the officer."

Mendoza had 4 warrants retired for his arrest, including for home unit and resisting arrest.

Authorities judge helium was unhoused.

The Porterville Police Department has nary caller updates connected the probe but says they received 3,000 calls regarding unhoused individuals successful 2025 alone.

"It's truly rather thing however atrocious this occupation has gotten and I anticipation and commune each the clip that a much meaningful process tin beryllium developed to get these radical wherever they request to spell to beryllium a small much successful," says Porterville Police Interim Chief Bobby Rader.

He says astir calls are for trespassing and payment checks.

They person 8 officers moving successful their Special Methods and Resource Team, SMART.

The extremity is to usher individuals to section resources.

"It's heartbreaking erstwhile we speech to radical that are making a conscious prime and they privation to get high. What bash you bash with that? What's the answer?" helium says. "We speech to radical that you tin archer don't privation to bash it, they are stuck, they are broken, and perfectly that impacts us."

The Porterville Police Department encourages radical who would similar to enactment section services to scope retired to section shelters and non-profits. In the meantime, they volition proceed their probe into yesterday's incident.

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