FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

04-13-09 1145 PM

Sheriff-Coroner Warren E. Rupf announced that a coroner’s jury has reached a finding in the October 20, 2008 death of John Walters. The finding of the jury is that the death was an accident.

John Walters died October 20, 2008, as a result of a motorcycle-motor vehicle collision. Walters was the driver of a motorcycle that was involved in two short police pursuits with the Oakley Police Department. During the second pursuit, Walters struck a vehicle at the intersection of Mercedes Lane and Laurel Road in the city of Oakley. Walters was pronounced dead at the scene.

The coroner’s jury reached a verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matt Guichard.

A coroner’s inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Rupf convenes in all fatal incidents involving police officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding:

Accident

Suicide

Natural Causes

At the hands of another person, other than by accident.

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