BAKERSFIELD POLICE

DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
William Rector, Chief of Police
________________________________________________________________________
Contact: Detective Mary DeGeare
Public Information Officer
661-326-3803
mdegeare@Bakersfieldpd.us

For Immediate Release October 7, 2009

On 10/7/09, at about 4:38 p.m., Bakersfield Police Department Motorcycle Officer

Nathan Anderberg conducted a routine traffic stop on a grey unlicensed Chevrolet
Tahoe in the 6200 block of District Blvd. The suspect and sole occupant of the vehicle,
Marcos Barraza 27 of Bakersfield, pulled over to the side of the road stopped. As Officer
Anderberg prepared to dismount he heard Barraza revving the vehicle engine and as he
started to get off of the motorcycle, Barraza abruptly placed the vehicle in reverse and
started rapidly backing toward him. Officer Anderberg yelled at Barraza to stop but
Barraza continued to accelerate backward toward Officer Anderberg. Officer Anderberg
ran to the sidewalk to avoid being struck and Barraza continued backing into the police
motorcycle. Fearing for his life, Officer Anderberg simultaneously fired one round into the
suspect vehicle striking Barraza in the neck. Barraza immediately announced he had
been shot and surrendered. Officer Anderberg held Barraza at gunpoint until assisting
officers arrived to take him into custody.

Within minutes, and while Barraza was still on scene awaiting medical aide arrival, his
girlfriend, Carla Rodriguez, arrived and rushed into the crime scene. Rodriguez was
given several orders to stop but she continued her attempts to get past the officers to
Barraza’s location. Assisting Officer Sean Underhill resorted to his Taser which
effectively stopped Rodriguez and she was arrested for interfering and resisting. A short
time later, a 17 year old female, related to Rodriguez, arrived and was also arrested for
interfering and resisting after disregarding officers commands to leave.

Barraza was arrested and taken to a local hospital where he is currently in stable
condition.

The Chevrolet Tahoe was determined to be a stolen vehicle.

Officer Anderberg will be placed on routine administrative leave during the investigation
and subsequent review board process. Officer Anderberg has been with the Bakersfield
Police Department for 9 years.