SBCDistrictAttorney
PUBLIC REPORT ON OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING OF WESLEY KLOTTHOR
ON JANUARY 13, 2024
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has completed its review of the Santa
Barbara Sheriff’s Office (“SBSO”) investigation into the fatal shooting of Wesley Klotthor, age
32, on January 13, 2024, in Santa Maria, California.
The following analysis is based upon investigative reports, video and audio recordings,
photographs, and witness interviews, including the voluntary statements of Santa Barbara Sheriff
Detectives Nicholas Adomaitis and Michael Savey, taken during the investigation and submitted
to this office by SBSO Detective Ruben Esparza.
The District Attorney finds the shooting by Santa Barbara Sheriff Detectives Adomaitis and
Savey was a justified use of force pursuant to Penal Code section 835a, and they bear no state
criminal liability.
FACTUAL HISTORY
Summary
On Friday January 12, 2024, the parents of 32-year-old Wesley Klotthor1 went to the Santa
Barbara County Sheriff’s substation in Santa Maria to speak with deputies about possible
resources for their son who had a history of mental illness. The Klotthors described Wesley’s
behavior as becoming increasingly paranoid and delusional, and explained that he carried a
Glock pistol on his person most of the time. Sheriff’s deputies discussed various resources for
the family and engaged the Sheriff’s co-response team2 for assistance. At this point the family
was not in fear of Wesley nor had he threatened them.
The family contacted the Sheriff’s Office again the following morning, after Wesley brought a
concealed firearm with him to breakfast at a restaurant. The family explained to deputies that
Wesley claimed he had a concealed carry weapon permit (CCW), and also reported that he said
the voices in his head told him he was the “black angel of death.” Based on this new information, Sheriff’s deputies prepared a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO)3 which was
signed by the Honorable Judge Stephen Dunkle at 12:45 p.m. The clinician on the Sheriff’s Co-
Response team also placed Wesley on a 51504 hold based on him posing a danger to others. The
Sheriff’s team began planning for the service of the GVRO and 5150 order, along with the
preparation of a search warrant for Wesley’s residence and vehicle.
Later the same day, at 5:20 p.m., a member of the Klotthor family called 911 to report that
Wesley was under the influence of a controlled substance and brandished a firearm at the family
while saying, “I will shoot someone.” The family fled the property, leaving only Wesley there.
Sheriff deputies were dispatched to the home in Orcutt to establish a perimeter to contain Wesley
in the house while a search warrant was obtained for the residence and an arrest warrant could be
prepared for violations of Penal Code section 422, criminal threats and Penal Code section 417,
brandishing a firearm. Knowing that Wesley was armed, under the influence of a controlled
substance and exhibiting paranoid delusional behavior, Sheriff’s personnel in charge of the scene
developed a plan to contain and observe the suspect, and to make telephone contact with him in
an effort to de-escalate the situation and encourage Wesley to surrender peacefully.
By 8:00 p.m., the Sheriff’s plan to contain and communicate with Wesley was fully in place.
Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team5 members relieved patrol deputies and deployed in
positions around the perimeter of the property. Sheriff’s deputies evacuated neighboring
properties for safety, and the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) engaged with Wesley on the phone.
Their attempts to de-escalate the situation with Wesley were not successful. He was increasingly
manic, paranoid and angry. Just after 9:00 p.m. Wesley told the CNT Deputy that in 10 minutes
he would start shooting law enforcement on sight. He went outside several times armed with a
Glock firearm affixed with a green laser sight. While outside he screamed “FBI! Drop your
guns!” While screaming he scanned the backyard with his laser sight. He would do this and then
go back inside the residence.
Three SET members (Detectives Adomaitis, Savey and Swank) were assigned to contain a
portion of the backyard and to observe Wesley’s movements and report to other deputies on-scene. They set up in the backyard of a neighboring property, standing on ladders to see over a
fence into the Klotthor backyard. Around 9:30 p.m. Wesley returned to the backyard and aimed
his firearm in the direction of Detectives Adomaitis and Savey. Detectives Adomaitis and Savey
fired their weapons in response to the threat. Wesley died on scene.
The full report can be read here.
