Deputies-involved shooting investigation remains open

The shooting in May of a homicide suspect in Turlock involving two Merced County sheriff’s deputies remains under investigation, authorities confirmed this week.

Brian Scott Hiatt, 49, of Mariposa was shot and killed May 30 near a motel in the 200 block of South Walnut Road. Hiatt was the prime suspect in the murders several hours earlier of Rhonda Hiatt, 47, of Mariposa, and her sister, Lisa Robbins, 51, of Hilmar.

Merced County sheriff’s Sgt. Dustin Witt and Deputy Adam Leuchner were involved the shooting of Hiatt. They were placed on administrative leave immediately after the incident, a standard procedure in officer-involved shootings. Both returned to work a few weeks later.

The Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday confirmed the investigations into the incident remain open.

The Turlock Police Department conducted the criminal investigation, which will be reviewed by the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, officials said previously. Updates on that case were not available this week and phone calls to both agencies were not returned. It remains unclear when the now 7-month-old investigation will conclude.

Sgt. Delray Shelton said there was no specific timetable for when the Sheriff’s Department’s internal review could be completed.

“It’s a very comprehensive process and, yes, some of these investigations take longer to complete than others,” Shelton said. “But it’s normal for them to take a lengthy amount of time because of the very involved process. It’s not uncommon at all.”

The Sheriff’s Department’s investigation is separate from the criminal investigation and focuses on whether the deputies followed all department procedures and regulations when they opened fire. The internal investigation is also standard protocol whenever deputies fire their guns in the line of duty.

Investigators said Hiatt shot and killed both women the night before his confrontation with deputies. Rhonda Hiatt and Lisa Robbins were found dead the night of May 29 at a home in the 11100 block of South Lander Avenue near Hilmar. Investigators have never commented on a motive for the shooting.

While investigators have said they cannot comment on specifics of the case until the full investigation concludes, the Sheriff’s Department has listed the double-homicide case as resolved.

Merced sheriff’s deputies identified Hiatt as a suspect in the case and tracked him to the Turlock hotel. Deputies about 5:20 a.m. May 30 got into a “confrontation” with Hiatt in the parking lot that ended when he was shot dead. Investigators have not commented on whether Hiatt was still armed during the confrontation with deputies.

Hiatt’s criminal record dates to at least the mid-1990s in Merced and Stanislaus counties. His convictions primarily involve minor drug, theft and traffic-related violations and numerous drunken-driving convictions. Hiatt had an assault with a deadly weapon charge reduced to a misdemeanor after reaching a plea agreement with Merced County prosecutors, according to Merced Superior Court records.

Witt joined the department in September 2005. He was promoted to sergeant May 5. Witt was also named the department’s Deputy of the Year for 2013 on May 8, three weeks before the shooting in Turlock. He received the honor, at least in part, for his work with the department’s fugitive apprehension team, Sheriff’s Department officials said.

Leuchner joined the department in July 2007 as a reserve deputy and was hired as a full-time deputy in August 2008.

This story was originally published December 28, 2014 at 5:22 PM with the headline "Deputies-involved shooting investigation remains open."