Surveillance video of shooting reportedly missing seconds of footage
By Paola Baker
Staff Writer
Posted Jun. 2, 2016 at 6:22 PM
VICTORVILLE — Attorneys representing the family of a Barstow man fatally shot by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputies last fall claim witnesses were intimidated and harassed by investigators.
Attorneys Sharon Brunner and Jim Terrell held a press conference Thursday in which witness statements to the incident were presented from three people who allegedly witnessed the altercation involving Nathaniel Pickett Jr., who was killed Nov. 19 near the El Rancho Motel in Barstow.
At Thursday’s press conference, Brunner and Terrell claimed they recently became aware that a previously presented surveillance video of the incident was missing four to five seconds of footage.
This claim was bolstered by witness James Kennedy, who lived at the motel when the altercation between Pickett and the deputies occurred.
“I don’t believe the video shows exactly what happened,” Kennedy said. “I was there, and that’s not what happened. There’s a few seconds missing.”
The Barstow Police Department investigated the deputy-involved shooting, “collecting security camera footage and belt recordings as evidence,” sheriff’s officials said following the May 17 press conference.
“The evidence collected was submitted with the completed report to the District Attorney for review,” the department said.
DA spokesman Chris Lee said two weeks ago that the case was pending review.
The attorneys also claimed witnesses to the incident had been subjected to harassment, threats and intimidation by Sheriff’s Department officials during the investigation.
Authorities previously said Pickett was seen hopping a fence and was generally uncooperative before he ran as a deputy attempted to handcuff him. A fight ensued and the deputy was hurt during the course of the scuffle that led to Pickett’s death.
The 45-second surveillance video, revealed during a press conference May 17, shows Pickett darting away from the deputy through a corridor, then tripping and sliding to a stop. He appears to scoot away from the deputy, who attempts to subdue and handcuff him.
The attorneys showed a video during Thursday’s conference from witness Amy Snyder, who was staying at a room in the motel directly across from where the incident occurred.
“I heard a rustling sound, then I heard (the deputy) say ‘stop resisting,’” Snyder said. “But he wasn’t resisting, fighting back or anything.”
Snyder claimed she then heard the deputy threaten to stun Pickett with a taser gun before shooting him “within seconds.”
“Everybody was telling the (deputy) that he lived there, he’s not stable, just leave him alone and let him go home, and he just kept nagging at him for no reason at all,” Snyder said. “He didn’t have to shoot him a second time. It was instantaneous.”
Private investigator Clifton Harris said Snyder was supposed to be present at the conference, but canceled at the last minute due to a “family emergency.”
“It’s my belief that she was afraid and made up a story,” Harris said. “I’m sure that was just a ruse to get away from coming here today.”
He claimed Snyder was told by investigators during her initial interview after the incident that “it would be a good idea for her to leave town.”
“Since that time, she has indicated that she has picked up two cases where she feels she didn’t do anything wrong,” Harris said.
Terrell claimed witnesses were also intimidated into leaving shortly after the incident occurred.
“We’re finding out that these witnesses were pretty much told if they didn’t meet the theory of what the police were doing, they were not mentioned in the reports or told to get off the property,” Terrell said.
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FBI are you reading this?
Hey McMahon you and the Boldts ready to head to Idaho? You’re not going to catch a break now that you pissed everyone off. You putting Leland and your pals in select areas is killing you. Nice move.
Should be quite simple for this dianamic duo of civil attorneys to prove the video was altered because a witness said it isn’t accurate. Let’s see how this plays out. Hell, an expert can make that distinction in an hour. And by the way, it was not the sheriff at Del Taco. Seems nobody printed that story.
Who was it then and what happened with that case Mr Mills?
LOL Joe to date your hero John McMahon and County lawyers have yet to fight these baseless lawsuits you would like folks to believe. Absolutely ZERO.
Remember if you prevail you can recover attorney’s fees.
I am sure the FBI forensics people can find those missing seconds of video tape. I’d be surprised they don’t have their own copy by now. Bet they have a copy of the Victorville tape from NBC.
And you are WRONG on Del Taco issue the County lawyers answer to the lawsuit was posted up for ALL to read.
Not ONE word in there saying McMahon was home in his jammies asleep.
The dynamic duo is kicking McMahons butt.
And since that issue was alledged under penalty of perjury I am shocked the County isn’t alleging that Attorney Conaway made false accusations against our beloved Sheriff.
Yep the allegations in the Del Taco incident are so outrageous the County already tried to settle it.
Same thing with the ticket quota lawsuit. Seems plaintiffs are not settling.
The dynamic duo of Ramos and McMahon couldn’t convict the gangbanger nor defend the shooting of him. Hmm that was worth $6 million.
Right now if McMahon gets a subpoena, as his lawyers have already indicated at least once he most likely has to take the 5th.
All these cases are Civil Rights issues. Under complete jurisdiction of the FBI and well within the statue of limitations.
The key is TARGET McMahon for deposition, get your case into Federal Court.
Are your knees sore Joe?
Mills he was there nummy.
Funny mills the video tape is missing from Del taco. Fair to go with the plaintiffs than believe the county. They lie like hell.