BAKERSFIELD POLICE
DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE

William Rector, Chief of Police
_________________________________________________ _______________________
Contact: Sergeant Greg Terry
     Public Information Officer
     661-326-3803
     gterry@Bakersfieldpd.us
 
For Immediate Release                & nbsp;       &n bsp;  Tuesday, April 15, 2008
 
Feliz Drive Officer Involved Shooting
On 2/9/08, at 10:42 p.m. Bakersfield Police Officers Dennis Eddy and Joseph
Cooley, of the Bakersfield Police Department Special Enforcement Unit, were
patrolling in the area of the 900 block of Feliz Drive.  Both officers were familiar
with this area and know it to be the territory of the “Eastside Crips” criminal street
gang.  
 
The officers observed a group of subjects standing to the front of 905 Feliz Drive
and recognized at least two of the subjects as members of the “Eastside Crips.” 
One of the subjects was Leon Anderson.  Officer Eddy and Officer Cooley had
personal knowledge that Anderson was on active parole and, as a condition of
his parole, was prohibited from associating with other known gang members. 
Anderson did not reside in this area and, based on his association with these
other gang members, was in violation of the conditions of his parole.  
 
As Officer Eddy and Officer Cooley exited their patrol vehicle intending to arrest
Anderson, he immediately ran away.  He ran east on Feliz Drive and then south
on Jastro Avenue.  The officers gave chase on foot and broadcast this
information over the police radio.  
 
As this foot pursuit was ongoing, the Kern County Sheriff’s Department helicopter
arrived and began observing the pursuit.  The deputies on board the helicopter
relayed Anderson’s movements to officers on the ground.  Anderson continued to
run south on Jastro Avenue.  Prior to reaching the next street, McNew Court,
Anderson jumped a fence into the yard of 930 McNew Court.  Anderson then ran
south and then around the side of the residence, eventually turning and running
north along the west side of this residence.  All the while remaining within the
fenced yard.  

Officer Eddy had taken up a perimeter position on Jastro Avenue, between Feliz
Drive and McNew Court.  Officer Cooley had continued his pursuit of Anderson
and took a position in a vacant lot west of the residence at 930 McNew Court. 
Deputies in the helicopter observed Anderson crouch down behind a vehicle
parked on the north side of the McNew Court residence.  Anderson then stood up
and took several steps toward Officer Eddy who deployed a non-lethal Taser. 
Simultaneous to this Officer Eddy observed a muzzle flash coming from
Anderson and felt a painful impact on the left side of his chest.  Officer Eddy
returned fire at Anderson.  Anderson again fired at Officer Eddy striking him in
the upper right leg.  Officer Eddy managed to fire additional shots at Anderson
before becoming incapacitated due to the gunshot to his leg.  The shooting of
Officer Eddy was witnessed by deputies in the helicopter.    
 
Anderson then moved west toward the vacant lot where Officer Cooley was
standing.  As Officer Cooley moved to the north, in the direction of the gunfire, he
observed Anderson coming west, over the fence, from the yard of 930 McNew
Court.  Officer Cooley shouted commands at Anderson, who then fired one shot
at the officer.  Officer Cooley fired two shots at Anderson who then tried to climb
a wrought iron fence on the north side of the vacant lot.  Due to the design of the
fencing, Anderson was unable scale the fence and turned back toward Officer
Cooley and fired another shot.  Officer Cooley fired 3 more shots at Anderson
who then went to the ground.  At this time Anderson was completely hidden from
Officer Cooley’s view due to the height of tumbleweed and debris in the field.
 
Officers William Caughell and Colby Earl, arrived on scene and went to the rear
of 917 Feliz Drive.  As Officer Caughell and Officer Earl walked along the
wrought iron fence behind 917 Feliz Drive, Officer Caughell suddenly observed
Anderson, lying down in some tumbleweed, with a black revolver in his hand.  
 
Officer Caughell immediately ordered Anderson to drop the gun, but he refused. 
Instead, Anderson began sitting up and as he did he raised the gun he was
holding.  Fearing that Anderson was going to shoot at him or Officer Cooley,
Officer Caughell took a step back and fired six shots at Anderson.  As additional
officers arrived, they approached Anderson and determined that he had been
shot and called for medical aid.  Anderson died at the scene.  A black .38 caliber
revolver with six spent casings was found with Anderson.  
 
As a result of being shot by Anderson, Officer Eddy had the lower portion of his
right leg amputated.  He is still recovering.  All of the officers have been cleared
to return to duty.
 
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Bakersfield Police at
661-327-7111.