A detailed account of a 2014 deputy-involved shooting in Canyon Country was released recently as part of a summary corrective action plan to be reviewed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

The plan “concerns allegations of wrongful death and excessive force by Sheriff’s deputies” in the shooting death of 47-year-old Steven Burke Pettersen,  according to Tuesday’s Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor’s agenda.

On Jan. 20, 2014 at approximately 8:14 p.m., two Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to multiple reports of a man (Pettersen) walking in traffic and attempting to strike passing vehicles with a large metal spike on Soledad Canyon Road, the plan states.

The deputies located Pettersen at the intersection of Soledad Canyon Road and Shangri-La Drive wearing only underwear despite the cold weather, leading them to believe he was under the influence of “PCP” or another type of drug.

They also reported he appeared “enraged” and was carrying a large metal spike later determined by Homicide detectives to be a four foot long sand spike, which has a pointed end that is driven into the ground and used to hold a fishing rod for shore fishing.

When deputies exited their patrol car, Pettersen allegedly charged toward them yelling, “Kill me, kill me,” while holding the spike over his head, forcing the deputies to retreat to the rear bumper of their car for safety.

Deputies requested additional units for assistance and drew their guns in an attempt to detain Pettersen, who ceased his aggressive behavior but allegedly refused to comply with several orders to drop the weapon.

While one deputy continued to cover Pettersen with his firearm, the second deputy deployed a taser.

When Pettersen approached a vehicle stopped in traffic and allegedly struck the driver’s side rear window with the spike — failing to break through the window — the deputies reportedly deemed him an “immediate threat to the public” and made the decision to approach him.  

Pettersen then allegedly charged at one of the deputies with the spike raised over his head, pointing directly at the deputy, who reportedly fired two shots, causing Pettersen to stop but not fall to the ground.

The second deputy then deployed two taser darts, one of which struck Pettersen but had no visible affect on him.

Pettersen resumed his charge toward the first deputy, who fired three rounds. Pettersen then dropped the spike and advanced toward the second deputy, holding an “open folding knife in a threatening manner,” the plan states.

The deputy dropped his taser device and drew his gun, discharging one round in fear for his life when Pettersen was a few feet away and continuing to advance toward him, according to the plan.

After the shot was fired, Pettersen stopped, turned and advanced on the first deputy with knife in hand, prompting both deputies to discharge their firearms. Pettersen then dropped to the ground and paramedics were requested.

Pettersen reportedly maintained his grasp on the knife while on the ground, prompting additional deputies to disarm him upon their arrival so they could begin to administer first aid.

Los Angeles County Fire Department officials were dispatched to the scene, where Pettersen was pronounced dead.

The corrective action plan states that the incident “was thoroughly investigated” by Homicide Bureau detectives to determine the extent, if any, of criminal misconduct by deputies.

Officials from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office were presented with the results of the investigation on January 7, 2015, and concluded that the deputies in question “acted lawful in self-defense and in defense of others.”

The incident continues to be investigated by the Sheriff’s Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau to determine the extent of any administrative misconduct by deputies before, during and/or after the incident.

Upon completion of the investigation, the results are expected to be presented to the Los Angeles County Executive Force Review Committee for consideration.