By Khalida Sarwari
A former officer with the Salinas Police Department has been charged with felony discharge of a firearm in a grossly negligent manner, according to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
Former Salinas police Officer Christopher Swanson was charged for the alleged crime that occurred on Feb. 3 on Sanborn Road near the intersection of Freedom Parkway.
According to Monterey County District Attorney Dean D. Flippo, Swanson is suspected of repeatedly firing his gun at two unarmed occupants in a Ford during a routine traffic stop.
The occupants were not injured.
Following an investigation into the alleged crime, the district attorney’s office decided not to file charges against Swanson’s backup Officer Steven Mattocks. Flippo said Mattocks also fired his gun but with reasonable belief that he needed to protect Swanson.
Swanson is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 11 at the Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas.