A California sheriff’s attorney was charged Friday with assault in a shooting last January, according to a release from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
Deputy Sukhdeep Gill of Santa Clara County claimed he was led into a trap by a passing car while stopping at the side of the road to urinate last year. He claimed to have been shot, and shortly thereafter used the emergency broadcast button to indicate that there was gunfire. The incident caused a chase on the suspected attacker.
At the time of the incident, sheriff and police officers, San Jose, Morgan Hill and Gilroy, were responding.
Respondents noted last year that Gill sustained no serious injuries after the alleged incident. The only damage appears to be to his body camera, where he claims to have been shot.
Gill also said he fired back at a silver sedan that was there when it fled the scene.
However, an investigation into the incident has found serious “inconsistencies in the deputy’s account”, and a warrant has been issued for Gill, which led to his arrest on Friday.
The officer, who has been with the department since 2016, is charged with vandalism and reporting a crime.
“This case is staggering and deeply disappointing,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in the release. “The actions of Deputy Gill abused the confidence of his fellow officers and diverted public safety resources from protecting the community to investigate a made-up crime.”