July 19, 2024 Re: Pacifica Police Department Officer Involved Shooting Of Michelle Arrais On March 27, 2024 The District Attorney’s Office has completed its investigation into the fatal shooting of Michelle Arrais on March 27, 2024 by Pacifica Police Corporal Hayden Fry and Officer Kevin Contreras during a confrontation at 2562 Francisco Boulevard in Pacifica. After a thorough investigation by Inspector Jamie Draper and other inspectors with the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe has concluded that there is no legal basis for filing criminal charges against either of the two Pacifica Police Officers involved in the death of Ms. Arrais. District Attorney Wagstaffe has concluded that the use of lethal force by Corporal Hayden Fry and Officer Kevin Contreras was legally justifiable self-defense and defense of others pursuant to California Penal Code section 835a and section 196. Therefore, this case is now deemed closed by this office.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: Monday, January 22, 2024 TO: Media Members FROM: Stephen M. Wagstaffe SUBJECT: Grand Jury Indictment – People v. Chunli Zhao
Within the last few years, in a bid to reduce wildfire risk throughout the county, Collamer and firefighters from both our unit and partnering agencies have successfully executed several prescribed fires, including 20-acres on the field between Filoli Historic House and Garden and Cañada Road. The property is on San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Watershed (SFPUC) land.
August 17, 2023 Re: In Custody Death Of Maycarla Sulapas On January 7, 2023
CAL FIRE CZU Unit Forester Rich Sampson hosted three truck trail tours this month. Nearly every year, Forester Sampson takes mostly newer Chief Officers in the unit on this comprehensive and outstanding tour across the truck trails of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The District Attorney’s Office has completed its investigation into the fatal shooting of Abran Gutierrez on November 15, 2022 by Redwood City Police Officers Luke Shoats, William Wolfe, Nicholas Muniz, Victor Figueroa, and Jose Montoya during a confrontation near the intersection of El Camino Real and Maple Street in Redwood City.
Just days removed from the tragedy in Monterey Park, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe and all the members of the District Attorney’s Office regrettably now mourn the 7 lives lost to a mass shooting right here in Half Moon Bay.
On Wednesday morning December 21, 2022, San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office Gun Violence Prevention Program (GVPP) Detectives, in collaboration with the Menlo Park Police Department served a search warrant that resulted in the seizure of prohibited firearms in the City of Menlo Park. The GVPP Detectives identified Kristian Arnaldo Arguello as a “prohibited person” who is not allowed to possess firearms and/or ammunition based upon a 2015 criminal conviction. Arguello had firearms still registered in his name, despite the 2015 prohibition. GVPP Detectives obtained a search warrant for Mr. Arguello’s residence, and they worked closely with the Menlo Park Police Department’s Investigations Division. As a result of the search warrant served yesterday on the 1300 Block of Henderson Avenue in Menlo Park, Detectives recovered an unregistered and prohibited AR15 assault weapon, numerous high capacity magazines for the AR15, hundreds of rounds of .223 ammunition, a Glock .40 caliber handgun, a Beretta 9mm handgun and 9mm and .40 caliber ammunition. Kristian Arnaldo Arguello was taken in custody and booked into the San Mateo County Jail for 29805(A)(1) PC, 30605(a) PC, and 30305(a)(1) PC, two of which are felony charges. This was a collaborative effort by our Gun Violence Prevention Program Detectives and the Menlo Park Police Department that will help keep our communities in San Mateo County safer.
On October 21, 2022, after 40 minutes of deliberation, a jury convicted Defendant Jowy Roman of Assault on A Peace Officer. On January 22, 2020, police went to the Defendant’s home to serve an arrest warrant and search warrant stemming from the Defendant’s years-long molestation of a minor victim. When officers arrived, the Defendant hid in the shower with a knife. Officers entered bathroom and the Defendant stabbed one officer in the chest which resulted in minor injuries. The knife did not penetrate the officer’s Kevlar vest. During the Defendant’s attack, a second officer shot the Defendant once in abdomen. The jury trial began with the Defendant facing 28 counts related to the molestation of the minor victim, with the 29th count being Assault on A Peace Officer for the January 22, 2020 incident. Midway through the victim’s testimony, the Defendant pled guilty to all 28 counts relating to the molestation. The Defendant is facing a minimum of over 100 years in prison on those counts alone. The trial continued on the one count concerning the Assault on A Peace Officer. The prosecutor was Sexual Assault DDA Nicole Sato, and the Investigating Officer was Clara Leong of the Foster City Police Department.
On September 13, 2022, after two days of deliberation, a jury convicted Defendant Christian Fuentes of the 2011 murder of Catherine Fisher and the attempted murder of Jamal Thomas. The jury also found a special allegation that the Defendant Fuentes was lying in wait true.
On September 9, 2022, after one hour of deliberation, a jury convicted defendant David Alexander Wolpert of making criminal threats in violation of Penal Code sections 422. The jury also found a special allegation that the Defendant used a weapon in violation of Penal Code Section 12022(b)(1) to be true.