Former Hollister Police Officer Shot at After Driving Onto Field Charged With 2 Felonies

Former Hollister Police Officer Shot at After Driving Onto Field Charged With 2 Felonies
Hollister Police Department. 395 Apollo Way, Hollister, CA 95023. (Map data @2018 Google)
9/12/2018
Updated:
9/12/2018

A former Hollister police officer who was shot at by police on Sept. 9, after allegedly stealing a car and driving it onto a field in Gilroy has been charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Chad Browning, 42, of Fresno, was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Jail with the bail of $250,000 on the evening of Sept. 9, according to Gilroy police. He was charged on Sept. 10, with felonies of assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon and vehicle theft, in addition to misdemeanors of petty theft and methamphetamine possession.

Hollister police spokesman Sgt. Don Pershall confirmed on Sept. 11, that Browning was an officer in the department from 2002 to 2007. He said he can’t discuss the reason for Browning’s departure because it is a private personnel matter.

Gilroy police first learned of a stolen vehicle out of Fresno on the morning of Sept. 9. The theft bulletin said the suspect was a former police officer who had stolen a car and recently tried to get a gun from a family member, according to police.

Browning called Gilroy police at about 1 p.m. on Sept. 9, and said the woman who had reported the stolen vehicle had been kidnapped. He also told officers the stolen vehicle belonged to him, according to police.

Police said he refused to provide more information and hung up the phone, which he had allegedly stolen from someone with developmental disabilities who let him borrow it.

He then called the police again and told them about athletic games happening at Gilroy High School, and his desire to fight with officers.

Police responded to the area and found him driving through an unoccupied field adjacent to the school’s stadium, where hundreds of fifth- and sixth-graders were playing Pop Warner football.

Police said the children’s parents recognized the danger, rushed to close football field gates and were able to prevent any injuries.

Realizing there was no other exit, Browning allegedly drove back the way he had entered and drove directly toward an officer who was on foot.

Police said the officer was in a confined area with no escape and shot at Browning’s vehicle to protect himself.

“The officer was aware of the risks in the area and knew his backdrop was clear of any other people, minimizing risks to those uninvolved in the incident,” police said in a news release.

Browning was not hit by the gunfire, but then lost control of the vehicle and surrendered to officers. No one was injured during the arrest, according to police.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Gilroy police at (408) 846-0350.

By Supriya Yelimeli