Kern County Sheriff's release video of man pepper spraying deputies, leading to shooting
By: Body-camera video and surveillance video were released of the moments a man ran away after pepper-sprayed a deputy, leading to a deputy-involved shooting in September. The man was arrested days later after trying to assault deputies again with pepper spray.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office said on Monday, September 2, 2024, at around 9 p.m., deputies conducted a traffic stop for vehicle code violations on the 5200 block of Olive Tree Court.
KCSO said the passenger, Christian Dumas, had two active felony warrants for his arrest.
KCSO released video of the interaction between deputies and deputies during the traffic stop.
The deputy steps away from the window of the truck to conduct a record check and confirms Dumas had two felony warrants. Deputies returned to the vehicle and tried to arrest him.
At one point, the video showed Dumas assaulting a deputy by pepper spraying him. Dumas ran off.
The other deputy went after Dumas and issued lawful commands to stop, however he continued to run into a nearby motel lobby.
The body-worn camera showed Dumas spraying the other deputy. A deputy-involved shooting happened during the foot pursuit.
KCSO said in the video, “Here you can see Demas running toward the deputy with both hands extended forward brandishing a black object that the deputy believed to be a firearm.”
The shots fired by the deputy did not hit Dumas. He ran over a nearby fence.
Surveillance video from the motel lobby was also released.
KCSO said there were suspected narcotics recovered from the lobby where Dumas ran to.
KCSO released photos of the 7-ounce pepper spray canister that Dumas pointed and sprayed deputies with. A label from the pepper spray said, “This is a powerful self-defense product. Processed from the hottest peppers in the world, Oleoresin capsicum (a full 19% rated at 2 million SHU on the Scoville rating scale) is the active ingredient.”
Along with the felony warrants, KCSO said an arrest warrant, was issued for resisting arrest by violence during the incident.
The driver involved in the traffic stop was not arrested.
Deputy Erica Andrews of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office was placed on critical incident leave pending the completion of the investigation.
On Saturday, September 7, 2024, at around 2 a.m., KSCSO said deputies found the wanted suspect, Christian Dumas in the 100 block of East Moneta Avenue, and he ran away to the 400 block of Chester Avenue.
KCSO said Dumas assaulted deputies again with pepper spray while trying to run away. He was apprehended with the help of a K-9.
Dumas was treated at a hospital and booked into jail. He was charged with obstructing a peace officer, resisting using force or violence, exhibiting a deadly weapon to resist arrest, illegal use of tear gas, harming a police dog, and multiple felony warrants.
On September 23, Demas accepted a plea deal, in addition to his charges listed in his felony warrants, for Grand Theft Auto and reckless evading and resisting arrest, according to KCSO. He is awaiting sentencing and could serve up to 10 years in prison.
On September 27, 2024, The Kern County Sheriff’s Office convened an Incident Review Board examining the use of force in this incident. The use of force in this case was determined to be within policy.