A man was shot to death after a struggle with sheriff’s deputies who used a Taser on him in Yucaipa on Saturday.
The incident began about 3 p.m. as a 911 call regarding vandalism or a disturbance at a mobile home in the 12900 block of Second Street, according to a press release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies search the area for a man, Merlin Factor, 25, known to have felony warrants for his arrest. Factor had been last seen with a woman who lived in the mobile home, according to authorities.
Soon, another 911 call from a woman drew deputies to make a traffic stop of green sedan containing Factor and a woman at Yucaipa Boulevard near Third Street (map), a little over a mile from the mobile home. It was there a conflict occurred.
“A fight ensues. Subject is struggling with deputies,” said Yucaipa Station Capt. Lee Hamblin.“Deputies at that point became fear for their life. He was reaching for his waistband on multiple occasions.”
Deputies used a Taser to stun Factor, but it was “ineffective,” Hamblin said.
“Deputies then used lethal force and the suspect was shot and transported to a local hospital,” Hamblin said.
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Factor later died at the hospital. A Sheriff’s Department news release issued after his death said he had “attempted to retrieve a weapon during the struggle.”
A witness, George Misavage, said he saw two deputies shoot Factor.
“They pulled the guy out of the car and there was a little struggle … It seemed like they tased him,” Miscavage said. “Then one officer pulled a gun out and started shooting at him. Then the other officer … came back and shot at him too.”
Hamblin on Saturday said he could not comment on whether Factor had a gun as the investigation – by detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Detail – was continuing.
