Update on death of Antioch man, fatally shot by Deputy Sheriff on Tuesday
By Jimmy Lee, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department
The autopsy into the death of Dewayne Ward took place this morning. The cause of death is listed as multiple gunshot wounds of chest and abdomen. Toxicology tests are pending.
Detectives from the Contra Costa D.A.’s Office, Office of the Sheriff and Antioch Police Department continue to investigate the officer involved shooting that occurred in Antioch.
At about 12:40 PM on Tuesday, February 3, 2015, Deputy Sheriffs from the Civil Unit went to an apartment complex on the one thousand block of Claudia Ct. in Antioch to carry out a Domestic Violence Restraining Order/Criminal Protective Order, which included a move out order.
The knife the County Sheriff’s office claims was used by Dwayne Ward before he was fatally shot on Tuesday.
Deputies contacted the occupant, 29-year-old Ward, who had prior law enforcement contacts. Ward had a no bail probation warrant. During the contact, Ward did not obey verbal commands from the deputies and resisted. Deputies then deployed force options that included pepper spray, a police K-9 and a Taser. They did not appear to have any effect on him. Ward continued to resist and charged at a deputy with a knife (see attached photo). The deputy fired his duty weapon striking the armed man. He was later pronounced deceased at the scene.
The deputy sheriff that shot Ward is Scott Pliler, who has been with the Office of the Sheriff for 13 years. He is currently a K-9 Deputy assigned to Patrol Division.
If anyone has any information on this case, Detectives can be reached at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
the attachments to this post:
Ward’s knife
