When officers responded, no serious injuries were found on Gill and it appeared that he was only shot once on his body camera, which had been destroyed, the release said. Gill’s report, according to the release, led to a manhunt for the alleged gunman.
Gill told officers that “he had parked on the muddy shoulder during a routine patrol to pee. Walking back to the driver’s side of his patrol car, he was shot at by the passenger in a silver sedan that had turned off the lights as he approached him. . “
An investigation found evidence that “revealed serious discrepancies in the alternate’s account,” the press release said. Gill was arrested Friday after a warrant was issued and charged with felony hooliganism and falsely reporting a felony crime, the release said.
According to the sheriff’s office, Gill, 27, was on administrative leave pending criminal and administrative investigations.
Gill’s attorney, Nicole Pifari, made a brief statement saying, “For now, I can only say that we are looking forward to getting our hands on the investigation and the evidence to understand why these charges are being prosecuted.”
CNN has contacted the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
According to the website of the sheriff’s office, Gill is on Monday’s agenda.
“This case is baffling and deeply disappointing,” prosecutor Jeff Rosen said in the statement. “Deputy Gill’s actions abused the trust of his fellow officers and diverted public security resources from protecting the community to investigate a fabricated crime.”
Gill has worked at the sheriff’s office since 2016, the release said.