Napa cop shoots, kills pursuit suspect

A police officer shot and killed a suspect in Napa’s Alta Heights area late Friday afternoon after a short pursuit, police said today.

The suspect, identified today as 41-year-old James Richard Jimenez of Napa, was on his motorcycle when he sped by officers who were about to serve a search warrant for drugs and firearms shortly before 5 p.m. at a home in the 1400 block of East Avenue, police said.

Four officers were assigned to serve a warrant for narcotics at the same home a month before, according to police.

Jimenez was found to have an extensive criminal history that includes acts of violence, narcotic violations, and gang affiliation, police said.

He drove past the officers in a motorcycle before the officers served the warrant, according to police.

The officers activated their emergency lights and siren and followed Jimenez as he sped away from them, police said.

Jimenez lost control of the motorcycle in the area of Spring Street and Hill Avenue, police said.

The officers approached the suspect and yelled “show us your hands” multiple times, according to police.

The suspect allegedly reached into his midsection for what officers recognized as a handgun, police said.

One of the officers fired three shots at Jimenez and one of the bullets struck Jimenez’s torso, according to police.

The officers placed him in handcuffs and performed CPR and other life-saving measures, police said.

Jimenez was transported to Queen of the Valley Medical Center where he died of his injuries, according to police.

Officers recovered from Jimenez a handgun, suspected methamphetamine and “a substantial amount of cash,” police said.

The four officers, a sergeant and three officers, were placed on paid administrative leave, per department protocol.

Police have not identified the officer who shot at Jimenez as of this afternoon. The Napa County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation into the officer-involved shooting, per county protocol.