Oversight office faults Sonoma Co. deputies in 2022 fatal shooting, sheriff rejects findings

Sonoma County’s civilian oversight office faulted sheriff’s deputies in the fatal 2022 shooting of David Pelaez Chavez, saying there is evidence the use of force may not have been reasonable.

In its investigative report finalized on Aug. 8, the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach said that “substantial evidence suggests that it may have been unreasonable” for the deputy, Michael Dietrick, to believe Chavez posed an imminent threat when he fired three shots that killed him.