DA says no charges in CHP shooting

DA says no charges in CHP shooting

EUREKA -- The Humboldt County District Attorney's Office has determined that the CHP officer who shot and injured Rodney Bartow in September on Snow Camp Road acted with reasonable cause, and that the shooting was legally justified.

At a press conference held Wednesday, the decision was announced.

” ... I have concluded that (CHP) Officer (Jeff) Goodwin has reasonable cause to believe that Mr. Bartow was resisting arrest, committing an aggravated assault, and was engaged in conduct that posed an immediate threat of serious physical injury or death to himself and/or others,” said a press release from the office of District Attorney Paul Gallegos. “Specifically, he was placed in a tense, highly uncertain and rapidly evolving situation. He made a split second judgment intended first to avoid to avoid the use of force and then, facing an immediate threat of serious physical injury or death to himself or others, to use deadly force.”

Bartow, 54, is currently being prosecuted for alleged crimes committed at the time of the shooting. He was shot after he drove in reverse toward a CHP officer after coming to a locked gate near Korbel.

The chase started after someone called to report apossible drunken driver near a Blue Lake gas station.
The CHP officer found the car, but Bartow took off when the officer tried to pull him over. Bartow lead the officer on Blue Lake Boulevard, through Korbel and almost to Snow Camp before reaching the gate.

Bartow was shot in the shoulder. He was eventually handcuffed and taken to a Redding hospital, where he was treated and released into police custody.

Credit when credit is due. Is this the third "Good Boy Paul?"