The San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office has charged Velasquez, 27, with one count of felony gross vehicular manslaughter (Penal Code section 192(c)(1)) based on a traffic collision that occurred on June 28th, 2017.

On June 28th, at approximately 1:50 A.M., Velasquez, who was then employed and on-duty as a Stockton Police officer was responding to a call of a person with a firearm. Velasquez, the driver, was headed to the scene of the reported crime and driving eastbound on Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. approaching the intersection of South Airport Way. The police vehicle was travelling at a high rate of speed, with its lights and sirens activated.

At the same time Velasquez was driving on Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., Titus Tabotabo, 28, was driving northbound on South Airport Way, also approaching the intersection. As Mr. Tabotabo's vehicle entered the intersection, with the green light and traveling between 27 and 29 miles per hour, Velasquez's unit entered the intersection. Velasquez's unit struck Tabotabo's vehicle broadside.

Both Velasquez and Mr. Tabotabo were injured in the collision. Mr. Tabotabo was taken to San Joaquin County General Hospital where shortly thereafter he died from his injuries. Velasquez's injuries were not fatal.

Shortly after the collision, the Stockton Police Department invoked the Officer Involved Critical Incident Protocol creating a Protocol Task Force to investigate this fatality. Members of this task force included the District Attorney's Investigative Unit, the Coroner's Unit and the California Highway Patrol.

After the investigation was completed and submitted to the District Attorney's Office, a review was undertaken by a team of prosecuting attorneys along with District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar, who then made the decision to charge this case.

The day of the fatality, Mr. TaboTabo's family was assigned a victim advocate from the District Attorney's office and his family has been notified of the decision to charge Velasquez.

It is anticipated that Velasquez will be arraigned on July 18th, 2018.