Martinez, Calif. – Today, Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton announces felony charges have been filed against Danville Police Officer Andrew Hall for causing the 2018 death of Laudemer Arboleda without lawful excuse or justification. Officer Hall shot at Mr. Arboleda and hit him nine times during a slow-moving vehicle pursuit in downtown Danville. Nine shots hit Mr. Arboleda.
Officer Hall is charged with felony voluntary manslaughter and felony assault with a semi-automatic firearm for the alleged unlawful activity and unreasonable force used during the shooting. Each felony count also contains an enhancement concerning Officer Hall’s discharge of his firearm, a Sig 226, 40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The second felony count also contains an enhancement for Hall’s unlawful activity causing great bodily injury against Mr. Arboleda.
An arrest warrant was signed by the Honorable Nancy Davis Stark for Hall’s arrest. His bail for the alleged offenses is $220,000.
“Officer Hall used unreasonable and unnecessary force when he responded to the in-progress traffic pursuit involving Laudemer Arboleda, endangering not only Mr. Arboleda’s life but the lives of his fellow officers and citizens in the immediate area. We in law enforcement must conduct ourselves in a professional and lawful manner when interacting with the public. Officer Hall’s actions underscore the need for a continued focus on de-escalation training and improved coordinated responses to individuals suffering from mental illness,” said District Attorney Becton.
On November 3, 2018, at 11:03 a.m., Danville Police Department officers responded to a call reporting that Laudemer Arboleda rang the doorbell of a resident on Cottage Place and was lingering in the area. Mr. Arboleda subsequently drove away from the neighborhood in a 2014 silver Honda. Officers initiated a traffic stop of Mr. Arboleda’s vehicle. When the officers exited their patrol car to approach him, Mr. Arboleda drove away from the officers.
Additional patrol cars joined the traffic pursuit, which lasted for a total of nine minutes and reached maximum speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. Mr. Arboleda continued to drive towards Front Street in Danville. Officer Hall, who was not involved in the initial pursuit, stopped his vehicle in front of the approaching pursuit. As Mr. Arboleda began to slowly maneuver between Officer Hall’s vehicle and another police vehicle involved in the pursuit, Officer Hall ran around the rear of his vehicle and fired his semi-automatic pistol at Mr. Arboleda.
As Officer Hall fired, Mr. Arboleda’s vehicle continued into the intersection of Front Street and Diablo Road and struck a 2006 silver Jeep occupied by an adult. Officers responded and found Mr. Arboleda in his car unresponsive with his foot on the gas pedal. He was taken to San Ramon Valley Medical Center and pronounced dead at 11:44 a.m.
The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher Walpole and Deputy District Attorney Colleen Gleason.
This case was investigated by the DA’s Office under the county protocol concerning law enforcement involved fatalities. The protocol investigation is conducted by the DA’s Office when there is a use of force injury or death involving an officer.
Case information: People v. Andrew Hall, Docket 01-195930-3
8 comments
Ironic that this D.A would make that statement and pursue this a day after the Floyd’s verdict.
Why not charge the homeowner who called in the original complaint too, then?
All white cops will be judged on every single move they make. The next time some of you call a cop and it takes longer for them to show up to help YOU, don’t be surprised.
Diana Becton is a crazy woman. She needs to be removed immediately. She’s an embarrassment to not only the county, but the state. The cop did the right thing!
What this idiot DA is doing is very dangerous to our safety. I don’t blame he police for not showing up not knowing what they will have to deal with and with an IDIOT DA waiting there to pounce on them. This Becton woman should be removed immediately. Suing her for harassing the police would be another way of ridding our country of her!
I watched the videos of this incident and I don’t see any felonies whatsoever. Is that DA freakin’ BLIND? Why is this woman the DA and when will she be kicked out? Grab her by the scruff and let her fly! What a witch!
Becton was too busy taking naps at her desk (pre-covid), having parties at her home (during covid), and not coming into the office. She doesn’t keep her staff in the loop (hence them finding out about this case in the media). Her other directives (did the thief NEED the item), her stance on prosecuting violent crimes, and her looking the other way based upon race are ridiculous. She is a fraud and needs to go!
Diana Becton was hired by George Soros to create chaos! Wake up people! Be careful who you vote for! Poor cop took the brunt of an evil plan.
How dare all the attention has been on the Chauvin trial and verdict! How dare the DA of Hannepin County get all the attention? Becton timed this harassment of the officer to get attention and so people don’t say she just fell off the turnip truck! One can even be rejected by turnips! This is one vile woman who should never hold this important position. We in this county have become a laughing stock since she came onboard!
EDISON —- I would never vote for anyone like Diana Becton in a million years! She can scare children.
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