SMC Parole Officer Cleared In Peninsula Shooting

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Following an investigation, the San Mateo County District Attorney cleared a parole agent in the shooting of a man last April in front of the state parole office in Redwood City, the prosecutor's office announced Tuesday.

District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe wrote to California State Parole Agent Marvin Abad's Supervisor Gregory Weber to inform him of his findings.

The probe stemming from a confrontation outside the county office at 540 Price Avenue resulted in the conclusion "that criminal charges are not warranted" and that the use of force by the agent which resulted in the injuries to Aaron Dennis Womack "was reasonable and justifiable under California law."

The case was closed by this office.

Further, the criminal case charging Womack on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon on Abad is set for a jury trial on Aug. 26, with a pretrial conference set for July 30.

In a letter addressed to the parole supervisor, Wagstaffe outlined his findings after investigating the circumstances as dictated by the District Attorney's office.

At about 1:30 a.m. on April 23, the 9-year parole officer was in his office on the second floor of the building when he heard a loud banging noise coming from somewhere nearby, along with the sound of someone screaming and yelling.

Since he was a state prison corrections officer for 10 years, Abad recognized the voice as that of one of the parolees he had for two years been supervising, Womack. When he walked down the interior stairs to the first-floor parking garage, he witnessed Womack punched the door, causing the glass to shatter. As Abad approached and when Womack turned to face him, Abad asked him what he was doing.

Agent Abad observed that Womack appeared agitated and confused. His eyes “were wide
and when I was trying to talk to him; it didn’t appear he knew who I was.”

Abad repeatedly tried to calm Womack down, but raised the dumbbell over his head and approached Abad.

Keeping the firearm near the body is a law enforcement tactic intended for situations in which the threatening individual is in close quarters to the suspect.

After shots were fired, Womack took a couple of steps forward as Abad took several steps backward. The agent noted no visible reaction by Womack to the gunshots. Womack
turned and walked away from Agent Abad.

Abad used his portable radio to advise that shots had been fired and to summon help.

According to prosecutors, Womack had psychiatric issues listed in his parole file;Womack recalled being

Further, Womack later stated that the agent “shot me because in my opinion he did the right thing. He was tripping, and I was tripping, I’m not going to blame him for shooting me. I would have shot me too... too close. I was too close to him.”

When Redwood City firefighters Ryan Coy and Danny Caballero responded, they observed that the police had already bandaged Womack’s wounds and noted what appeared to be gunshot wounds on Womack’s left leg and near his groin. They also noted the presence of two Taser probes, one in his back and the other under a bandage. While being treated, Womack laughed and noted that the Taser hurt more than the gunshot.

Other witnesses ranging from a homeless man to a forensic lab's expert provided information for the investigation.

In conclusion, the D.A. surmised Abad acted lawfully in response to a "dangerous and rapidly-escalating situation" and shot Womack in self-defense.