Merced officer who fired at chase suspect identified

The Merced police officer who opened fire on a man in a speeding car has been identified as William Avery, a 10-year veteran of the Merced Police Department.

Avery on Monday was identified by the Merced Police Department as the officer in the Sept. 21 shooting on M Street in Merced. Avery fired at least one round a car driven by John A. Barragan, 33, of Atwater, authorities have said.

Barragan was the driver of a car that a police officer initially tried to stop for a suspected traffic violation on Buena Vista Drive. Barragan refused to stop when officers tried to pull him over. He led police on a high-speed chase through several busy streets in Merced. The police officer fired at the car near the intersection o f Fairfield Drive and M Street, near several fast-food restaurants, according to police.

Barragan sped away from the shooting scene and eventually headed to the Beachwood-Franklin area, an unincorporated neighborhood on the western outskirts of Merced. He abandoned his car in the area of Belcher Avenue and West Santa Fe and was captured a short time later by law enforcement.

Barragan, who has a lengthy recent arrest record, pleaded no contest Friday to a single felony count of evading peace officers and was sentenced to 16 months in state prison.

Avery has been placed on administrative leave in connection with the incident, a routine procedure in officer-involved shootings.

This story was originally published October 2, 2017 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Merced officer who fired at chase suspect identified."