Sheriff: Man killed by deputies in San Leandro had 11 prior felony convictions, 50 arrests in Alameda County

ByLeslie Brinkley KGO logo
Friday, March 15, 2019
Man killed by deputies had long criminal history
41-year-old Charles Ballard had a long rap sheet, including 11 prior felony convictions, and 50 arrests, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Department.

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (KGO) -- We're learning more about the man killed in an officer-involved shooting Wednesday in San Leandro.

41-year-old Charles Ballard had a long rap sheet, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Department.

ORIGINAL STORY: 3 deputies open fire on suspects, killing 1, after alleged robbery of San Leandro thrift store

Ballard had 11 prior felony convictions, and 50 arrests in Alameda County, mostly for theft-related offenses, some drug sales, and evading the police.

Come to find out he was on felony probation and had an active felony warrant for auto theft when he was gunned down this week after what was essentially a shoplifting incident at a thrift store.

"When we heard it we thought it was fireworks 'bang bang bang bang bang' and then dead silence," witness Joey Coelho tells ABC7 News. "And then the cops were swarming the whole street."

It was daylight, around 4:40 in the afternoon, when police responded to reports of a robbery at Thrift Town at east 14th and 162nd Avenue in San Leandro.

When the first deputy arrived, she wanted to question him, he allegedly ignored her and got in his car when a second officer pulled up.

When officers tried to pull him out of the car, he reportedly started the car and put it in reverse with the door open. That door caught one of our deputies and dragged them 30 feet into another parked car.

RELATED: Woman charged with attempted murder in San Jose standoff, hostage situation

A third motorcycle officer pulled in and all three opened fire.

The suspect died at the scene.

The woman passenger in the SUV was wounded and is now recovering. She is not considered a suspect at this point in the investigation. A dog in the SUV was unhurt and rescued.

The three officers involved suffered minor injuries.