PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INDICATES DEPUTIES ACTED IN SELF DEFENSE
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INDICATES DEPUTIES ACTED IN SELF DEFENSE
Oroville Ca-- On December 29th, 2014 at approximately 4pm, BCSO dispatch received a 9-1-1 call from a woman who had just arrived home, and discovered a broken window leading her to believe her son had forced entry into her home. The woman stated her son had threatened her in the past, and she didn't want to walk into a volatile situation. The mother said her son was bipolar and schizophrenic and had been taken for a mental health evaluation on Christmas Day.
Butte County Sheriff’s Deputies Hugh Hooks and William Brewton arrived at the residence to conduct a welfare check on the subject at approximately 4:30 p.m. Deputies met with the subject’s mother, who provided further details regarding her son’s behavior and mental health history. The subject’s mother directed deputies to a residence next door to her residence, where the subject had been residing. The mother accompanied the deputies in an attempt to speak with her son.
Upon arrival, Deputy Hooks attempted to make contact with the subject at the front door, however the subject locked the door and refused to open it. The mother then walked to a separate side door which she opened and began talking to her son while she was standing outside. The mother attempted to speak to her son to get him to allow the deputies to enter the home and assess his mental condition. The subject then gave Deputy Hooks permission to enter the residence to speak with him. Upon entering Deputy Hooks told the subject he was not in trouble and the deputy just wanted to speak with him. The subject, who was standing at the end of a long hallway, approximately 20 feet away, abruptly turned and reached into an adjacent kitchen. The subject then began to charge the deputies and the deputies saw a knife in the subject’s uplifted hand. Within seconds the subject made contact with Deputy Hooks who raised his arms to defend against a whirling and frenzied knife attack. The attack was so sudden that Deputy Hooks was unable to pull his weapon but was able to shove the subject off of him which caused Deputy Hooks to move backwards striking a wall behind him. Deputy Hooks then observed the subject attacking Deputy Brewton with the knife in a rapid downward stabbing motion.
Deputy Brewton was able to deflect the knife strikes by raising his left arm, but did receive a shallow laceration, approximately 3 inches in length, to the left side of his neck over his jugular vein as a result of the knife attack.
Deputy Brewton was able to un-holster his firearm in an attempt to defend himself, however the subject was able to grab Deputy Brewton’s firearm with his free hand, rendering it inoperable. Deputy Hooks, fearing for Deputy Brewton’s life, un-holstered his firearm and moved toward Deputy Brewton and the subject and fired one round at the subject ending the knife attack.
The subject immediately fell to the ground and was taken into custody by the deputies. Deputy Hooks immediately began first aid and CPR until medical personnel arrived. The subject was then pronounced deceased. Investigators located the knife, which had been broken during the attack, near the decedent’s body. The decedent has been identified as Robert Battagilia, age 28.
The investigation is being conducted by the Butte County Officer Involved Shooting/Critical Incident Protocol Team. Deputy Hooks and Deputy Brewton have been removed from patrol duties pending the outcome of the investigation, which is normal protocol. Further details of this ongoing investigation will be released by District Attorney Mike Ramsey as information becomes available.
