Updated 08/22/2018— On August 21, 2018, despite lifesaving efforts, the suspect in this case was pronounced brain dead by medical staff at a local hospital. He was kept on life support, per the family’s wishes, for life sharing options. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office took possession of his body on August 21, 2018.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of his death. The male has been identified as twenty-eight-year-old Marco Napoles Rosales, of El Monte.
The deputies involved in this event have been identified as Nicholas Adams, Katherine Barajas, Brandon Delima, Carl Fielstra, Evan McCormick, Christopher Perez, Brian Schaefer, and Terence York.
Deputies Barajas, Delima, McCormick, Perez and York are assigned to the Fallbrook Sheriff’s Substation. Deputies Adams and Schaefer are assigned to the Vista Patrol Station. Deputy Fielstra is assigned to the Sheriff’s Hospital Guard Unit and was off-duty at the time of incident.
Deputy York, who was bitten by Martinez, has returned to full duty after being treated for his wounds and released.
The original story follows
Fallbrook CA— Early this morning, August 16, 2018 just after 4:30, deputies from the Fallbrook Sheriff’s Substation responded to a call for service at Circle K/Mobil gas station located 4730 Highway 76, in Fallbrook. The 9-1-1 caller stated there was a male adult inside the location, acting strangely and refusing to exit the business when employees asked him to leave. The suspect was believed to possibly be under the influence of drugs. Deputies arrived at about 4:46 a.m. and contacted the man.
When the deputies attempted to evaluate the man, he became combative and a struggle ensued, as the male resisted attempts to safely detain him. Two men who were driving by also stopped and helped the deputies as they tried to gain control of the suspect. The force used by deputies to control the male included the use of a Department-issued Taser Conducted Energy Device (CED). The suspect bit a deputy’s hand during the altercation. He was ultimately detained and the WRAP restraint was utilized to restrict his movement in an attempt to de-escalate the situation and facilitate safe transport.
Deputies requested Medics from the North County Fire Protection District come to evaluate the male. The Fire Department arrived and prepared to transport the suspect to the hospital. The male went into medical distress and became unresponsive inside the ambulance before being transported to a local hospital, where he remains. He was stabilized but his prognosis is uncertain. Detectives from the San Diego Sheriff’s Homicide Detail responded to the scene and are investigating. The injured deputy will require sutures to close the hand wound.
The investigation is continuing.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330, or after hours at (858) 565-5200. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.