Aptos man killed in struggle by San Jose police identified

A man fatally shot by San Jose police in Saratoga earlier this month has been identified by the Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office as 29-year-old Andrew Roberts of Aptos.

Roberts died of a gunshot wound to the head, according to the medical examiner. Police said last week Roberts was killed after a struggle during a traffic stop at about 3:10 p.m. on Nov. 9.

Police said Roberts tried to pull a loaded gun from his waistband during the stop in a southbound lane of state Highway 85 near Winchester Boulevard while he was in the passenger seat of his father’s vehicle. His father was in the driver’s seat at the time.

Roberts reportedly tried to reach for an officer’s service weapon after an officer attempted to restrain him and another officer used a Taser stun gun on Roberts.

When the Taser did not work to stop Roberts in the struggle, and after Roberts reached for the officer’s service weapon, Roberts was fatally shot by Sgt. Lee Tassio, according to police.

This was the fourth officer-involved shooting involving San Jose police this year.

Roberts had multiple prior convictions for offenses relating to arson, burglary and grand theft auto, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Police had been investigating Roberts and obtained warrants for his arrest prior to the Nov. 9 shooting.

Police said last week that Roberts was out of jail on early-release probation when he reportedly rammed a police vehicle in another altercation with police during an Oct. 24 vehicle stop.

Bay City News

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