Pete Valdez Jr. faces possibility of life in prison
Christopher Quirk – Staff Writer
cq****@************ch.com
GILROY
The man charged with trying to kill a police officer was swiftly arraigned Monday afternoon in front of seven supporters, all of whom declined to comment.
Pete Joseph Valdez Jr., appeared at the San Martin Courthouse to be arraigned along with about a dozen other inmates in custody. The 28-year-old, who was denied bail, faces charges of attempted murder of a police officer, assault of a police officer, being a felon in possession of a gun, and delaying or resisting a police officer. If convicted of these charges Valdez Jr. could be sentenced to life in prison.
Gilroy police officer John Ballard noticed Valdez Jr. biking the wrong way down West Eighth Street without a headlight, at 3:13 a.m. Thursday, police said. When Ballard tried to stop Valdez Jr., he took off.
Ballard caught up with Valdez Jr. – a felon convicted of burglarizing Goldsmith Seeds – a few blocks later and a foot chase ensued, police said. During the pursuit, Valdez Jr. punched and kicked the officer, then pulled a gun on him. While aiming the semiautomatic, medium-caliber handgun loaded with live ammunition at the officer’s head, Valdez Jr. pulled the trigger, but the gun malfunctioned and did not fire.
Ballard resumed fighting with Valdez Jr. until another officer arrived and subdued Valdez Jr. with a stun gun.
When Valdez Jr. appeared in court to hear the judge inform him of his rights, he wore a prison-issued yellow jersey with red pants and had both his hands and legs bound with handcuffs. Valdez, Jr. said nothing but glanced occasionally at the seven people who had come out to support him.
Valdez Jr. will next be in court to enter a plea, Nov. 30 at 1:30 p.m.
