Man Killed By Vallejo Police Worked At Winery, Faced Battery Case
VALLEJO (CBS SF) -- The Vallejo man who was fatally shot by Vallejo police early Monday morning was a valued, 10-year employee, an executive at a Napa winery said Tuesday.
Anton Barrett was a foreman in the barrel room of the Domaine Carneros Winery in Napa County, the winery's CEO Eileen Crane said.
Barrett started at the winery at 1240 Duhig Road in January 2002 and was to receive an award at a brunch in two weeks for 10 years of service, Crane said.
"He was well liked by his co-workers and a very good-hearted and respected member of the team," Crane said.
"We're very sorry this happened," Crane said. "He was committed to doing his job right. He made sure the barrels were clean and in order."
Employees work a four-day week and Barrett would have last worked on Thursday or Friday, Crane said.
Barrett, 41, was unarmed when he was shot at an apartment complex in the 200 block of Wilson Avenue after a vehicle pursuit.
Barrett did not comply when an officer, a seven-year veteran, told him to stop and put his hands up, Lt. Ken Weaver said.
Barrett ran toward the officer, the officer backed up and told Barrett several times to show his hands, Weaver said.
Barrett had his hands in the waistband of his hooded sweat jacket, reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark-colored metal object, Weaver said.
The object was later determined to be a metal wallet, not a firearm, police said.
Weaver said the officer believed Barrett was armed and was going to shoot him or other officers.
The officer shot Barrett several times, Barrett fell to the sidewalk but tried to get up, Weaver said.
The officer told other officers Barrett had a gun and another officer shot Barrett with a Taser, Weaver said.
Barrett was handcuffed and officers performed life saving procedures and called for fire and medical personnel to respond to Wilson Avenue, Weaver said.
Barrett was taken by ambulance to the John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek where he died at 5:34 a.m. Monday.
The incident began when a white 1999 Lexus without headlights on sped through stop signs and stoplights at intersections in the area of Santa Clara and Indiana streets just after midnight, police said. The Lexus did not stop until it was behind the apartment complex, police said.
Police arrested the front seat passenger in the Lexus, 18-year-old Anton Barrett Jr., for resisting arrest. An unidentified passenger in the back seat of the Lexus is still at large, police said.
The officer who shot Barrett is on paid administrative leave. The Vallejo Police Department and the Solano County District Attorney's Office are investigating the shooting.
Solano County Superior Court records show Barrett had a felony spousal battery case pending in court. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 23.
Felony charges also were filed against Barrett on Aug. 3, 2004 and Dec. 7, 2007. The nature of the charges was not identified. Barrett received probation in the 2004 case.
Barrett was convicted in Napa County Superior Court on July 30, 2009 of felony possession of marijuana for sales, Napa County Deputy District Attorney Holly Quate said. Further details of that case were not available, Quate said.
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