A man accused of trying to shoot a Gilroy police officer in the
face will appear in court this morning for a discovery hearing.
A man accused of trying to shoot a Gilroy police officer in the face will appear in court this morning for a discovery hearing.
Pete Joseph Valdez III, 28, will appear at the South County Courthouse in San Martin at 9:30 a.m. for the fourth time since his winter arrest. At this appearance the defense will have a chance to investigate the county’s case.
At his last appearance in late February, Superior Court Judge Hector Ramon scheduled the preliminary hearing for 1:30 p.m. May 2.
Valdez faces felony charges of attempted murder of a police officer, assault of a police officer with a firearm, being a felon in possession of a gun, and delaying or resisting a police officer. If convicted of these charges Valdez, who was denied bail three months ago, would spend the rest of his life in prison.
About 3 a.m. Nov. 15, Gilroy police officer John Ballard noticed Valdez biking east on West Eighth Street without a headlight and on the wrong side of the road, police said. When Ballard tried to stop him, Valdez took off.
Ballard caught up with Valdez a few blocks later and a foot chase ensued, police said. During the pursuit, Valdez punched and kicked the officer, then pulled a .25-caliber semiautomatic handgun loaded with seven hollow-point bullets. Valdez aimed the gun at Ballard’s face and repeatedly pulled the trigger, but the gun jammed and did not fire.
Ballard resumed fighting with Valdez while another officer arrived and helped subdue and arrest Valdez. In an interview after the incident, Valdez said he pulled the gun in hopes that an officer would shoot and kill him.
“I don’t want to live,” said a crying Valdez after he was apprehended, according to a police report.
Valdez has 10 prior convictions including three felony convictions for a strong-arm robbery.
Valdez is the son of former 16-year Gilroy councilman Pete Valdez Jr., who has been present at his son’s three previous court appearances.
