Mountain Ranch, CA…This is regarding the officer involved shooting in Calaveras county on 7/5/18. I would like to share facts that the Sheriff’s department left out of their statement and clear up some FALSE information they publicized to everyone: First I would like to publicly apologize to the officers involved for the position John put you in. I can not even imagine what you went and are going through. And your families. I would like to commend you for doing your job, as I respect your position and doing what you were trained to do in that situation.

With that being said, to the author of Calaveras Sheriffs department social media press release. Was it necessary for you to portray John as a monster who was out to hurt someone, now that the facts are known? Yes, John was a sex offender. Who served his time 14 years ago (when he did it) and never re offended, never had another allegation or failed an inspection while on probation.

No, I am defending John’s choices just stating the facts. Yes, I know it’s public knowledge but let’s be real, it’s irrelevant to this situation (and to the community members as he registered and followed the rules regarding that matter).You are feeding into the county hate. Yes, people can Google it and find him but again let’s be real the community was wanting to know about this situation and most aren’t going to put that much time into a situation that doesn’t involve people they know.

Why not just state the facts pertaining to 7/5/18 incident. Which was an obvious suicide by cop.( As I told your lead Sargenet earlier on 7/6/18 before the release. John had made several threats and attempts of suicide in the past. I also informed him John was having mental health problems and had not been in a healthy state of mind. He was extremely drepressed.) And yes, I said obvious suicide by cop because it was an air soft gun according to your press release.

Now that the facts are known even if he did shoot it, it wasn’t going to do much but break a window or give you one hell of a bruise. If he was really out to “hurt” someone wouldn’t you think he could have grabbed one of the real guns he had that was locked up but available to him at his house? So again I ask was it necessary to add irrelevant information? Why not leave his grieving family with some pride?

Secondly to clarify, Calaveras Sheriff listed a 1126 Rape charge, that is FALSE information and defamation of character. This charge was involving the 288 case. It had to be dropped due to failure of evidence as the victim consented. And if not please let me know when this happened so I can follow up with THE FACTS of that case. As I did when I sat in that court room and heard all the facts regarding the 288 (lewd and lascivious act) case. If you want to know more details I would love to share and if not don’t judge or share false information please. I do not condone John’s choices in anyway but he was still the Father of my daughter. Who he loved with all his heart and would do anything to protect.

Thirdly, I have lived in the Amador and Calaveras counties for 17 years and have loved every moment of it. I love the way when there’s a disaster everyone jumps into help in a blink of an eye. I too have helped. I love the fact that I know if I break down someone I know or who knows someone I know stops to help. I too have stopped. How we all bicker and give a hard time to our neighbors. Yet still there when needed. I have a pretty reputable reputation and have been an active community member for 17 years. So has my daughter, who has lived here her whole life.

However, with that being said I am truly heartbroken by the ugliness and hateful opinions I have read and worse yet my daughter has read by strangers, neighbors, community members, board members, her friends family members and so on about her father. So the next time there a situation like this and you want to post some mean or hurtful opinion when u don’t know the story (or even the person) please stop yourself, and remember we are all inner twinned in these small communities in some way. And when it’s a loss, it’s a loss to another community member who is looking for support and love not hatred and cruelty. I hope we can continue to love each other and remember we all know someone who knows or is related to “that” person.

Lastly, Thank you for your time and please share some of the truth. John was not a bad person he was a father, brother and son to a family who is grieving from another bad choice of his. He can’t hear the words you speak but his family can.