SDPD OFFICER KILLED, SECOND OFFICER SERIOUSLY INJURED AFTER SUSPECT STRUCK VEHICLE

By Miriam Raftery

Updated August 29, 2024 with identity of the teen suspect who died at the scene following a pursuit.

August 28, 2024 (San Diego) –  A San Diego Police officer is dead and a second officer hospitalized in critical condition after their patrol vehicle was struck by a suspect following a high-speed chase. The suspect also died at the scene on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. west of I-805 around 11:30 p.m. on Monday.

Ironically, the chase initiated by other officers had been called off to protect public safety, shortly before the suspect slammed into the vehicle driven by Officer Austin Machitar, who was responding to a call to assist with the pursuit. A field training officer who appeared in SDPD recruitment flyers and videos, Officer Machitar had just celebrated his 30^th birthday when the deadly crash occurred. He died at the scene.

Officer Zach Martinez, 27, a Navy reservist trained by Machitar, was in the patrol vehicle’s passenger seat during the crash. As of yesterday, he remained hospitalized at Sharp Memorial with serious injuries.

The suspect has been identified as Edgar Giovanny Oviedo, 16, of San Diego.

SDPD Chief Scott Wahl, at a press conference outside the hospital, remembered Machitar as “the kind of guy you wanted on your team. Athletic; he was a competitor. He had a passion for training.” He added that Machitar had “a character that made him one of a kind.”  He is survived by his parents and sister.

Martinez “was born and raised to serve,” Chief Wahl said of the injured officer.”An EMT, his heart is into helping people.”  He voiced optimism that Martinez would recover, but noted, “He has a very long road to go” due to numerous injuries.

Both officers were assigned to patrol in SDPD’s Northern division. Machitar had served with the force since 2019; Martinez joined in 2023.

 San Diego’s Commission on Police Practices just last month released recommendations calling for changes in pursuit policies after studying over 1,000 SDPD pursuits, finding that in the past five years, 20% of those pursuits resulted in collisions, and most were initiated for minor violations.

SDPD has not released the reason for the pursuit.

SDPD has asked the California Highway Patrol’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team, which specializes in complex collisions, to investigate the crash.

Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered flags flown at half mast at the state capitol in memory of Officer Machitar, the 35^th SDPD officer killed in the line of duty.

The San Diego Police Officers Association is encouraging donations to help the families of Officers Machitar and Martinez through the “Fund a Hero” link on the Peace Officers Research Association of California webpage. You can donate at https://porac.org/fundraiser/sandiegopd_officers/.  To date, $58,000 of the $250,000 goal has been raised.