Defense attorney wants more time to review case
SAN MARTIN
The case of a man accused of trying to kill a police officer was delayed Friday morning until after the holidays.
Appearing in a bright yellow prison-issued jumpsuit, Pete Joseph Valdez III spent about 10 silent minutes staring at the floor in a South County Courthouse courtroom while his attorney asked for a continuance. The 28-year-old was denied bail last month and 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 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 Valdez, he 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 semi-automatic 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.
Valdez has 10 prior convictions including three for felony strong-arm robbery.
Only Valdez’s parents – Linda Valdez and former 16-year Gilroy councilman Pete Valdez Jr. – were in the courtroom when Valdez III was brought in. In the two weeks since his last appearance, Valdez III had grown an untrimmed beard. Valdez III looked at his parents twice, but did not say anything or make any gestures. His parents also did not speak or gesture.
Privately hired defense attorney Brendt Ingo Brauer asked for the plea hearing to be delayed until 1:30 p.m. Jan. 22. Brauer, who appeared for the second time in court but only once as the general counsel for Valdez III, said that he had not reviewed the case and needed more time.
