This footage, provided by police in Lathrop, California, shows the moment a suspect tried so desperately to steal a car that he clung to it while it was driving away. When the driver finally stopped, the suspect persisted in trying to steal the car, at which point the officer shot him. Due to the injuries shown, viewer’s discretion is advised.

The suspect, 40-year-old Juan Valdez, is shown fleeing from police pursuit following their response to a domestic violence call. He evades several attempts to disable his vehicle, but his left rear tire disintegrates at 01:05, causing Valdez to stop. He bails, narrowly avoiding the first cruiser in pursuit, and tries to steal a nearby blue sedan. The driver takes off, and Valdez rather impressively hangs on to the car while it’s in motion. He hangs from the window, trying to avoid the asphalt.

When the blue sedan comes to a stop, Valdez tries to circle around and enter the vehicle from the passenger side. Because he insists on trying to steal the vehicle, the officer shoots him twice at 01:33. When Valdez goes down, another officer brakes inches away from running him over. The officers then arrest and render aid to Valdez, and some of that process is shown here. They strip his shirt away and apply a chest seal. Valdez also sustained an injury to his arm, which he complained of as being broken, although this is not confirmed in the footage.

Juan Valdez was booked on the following charges: False imprisonment, carjacking and resisting arrest.

About the Author

Cole Simms

Cole Simms is an Air Guardsman, NASA enthusiast, police officer, and security contractor with particular experience in austere environments. Outside of work, he volunteers as a Stop The Bleed instructor for area schools. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and blends his knowledge and experience to write analysis for Funker530.

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