Man shot by deputies drug-addicted, bipolar

The shooting of a North County man by sheriff’s deputies has left his parents reeling with unanswered questions about the deadly encounter in their Vista garage.

Michael Napier — Family photo

( / Family photo)

Deputies had gone to the Shadowridge Apartments Friday to serve a felony drug-possession arrest warrant on Michael Paul Napier, 33, who was in his parent’s garage working on his bicycle.

Two deputies fired their weapons when Napier reached for his waistband, authorities said.

At a news conference late Friday, sheriff’s homicide Lt. Glenn Giannantonio said he didn’t have information at that point about whether Napier was armed or not.

“I just don’t understand,” his father, Charlie Napier, said Saturday.

“If he was armed, it’d be a whole different story. It happens in this community too much, and I hope to God someone puts a stop to it. Too many people get killed that don’t deserve it in Vista.”

Similar shootings stirred public outrage in the city in 2005, when deputies killed three men in the span of five days. One had thrown a 10-pound dumbbell at a deputy, while the other two were found to have a Leatherman multipurpose tool and a pocket knife; none were armed with guns. The incidents spurred a review and overhaul of use-of-force policies.

Michael Napier struggled with drug abuse despite graduating from three rehabilitation programs, his father said. He was also diagnosed as bipolar and had stopped taking his medications because he couldn’t afford them.

Public records show numerous drug-related arrests, as well as arrests on charges of reckless driving and robbery.

Napier, who graduated from Guajome Park Academy in Vista, was unemployed, staying on friends’ couches. He worked for an appliance recycling company in Vista on and off for several years as a delivery driver and installer, his father said.

He was planning to leave for Washington on Monday to stay with friends for awhile.

His last Facebook post, written Thursday, reads: “I’m outta here yayyy!”

“Michael was a gentle person. He never hurt anybody,” his father said. Napier is survived by two sons, ages 6 and 10.

The shooting occurred about 6:20 p.m. at the garage on Melrose Drive.

Napier had been under surveillance by four deputies from the gang enforcement unit, authorities said. They remained outside the garage and confronted him, ordering him to show his hands. But Napier refused and reached to his waistband with both hands, Giannantonio said.

Fearing for their safety, two deputies fired, the lieutenant said.

Deputies performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but Napier died at the scene.

His father had just arrived home with dinner when the shots rang out.

“I heard five shots. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang — just like that,” said Charles Napier, who works at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad. “I thought it was somebody pounding on a Dumpster or something. Then I heard a police car and went outside to see what was going on.”

Other witnesses also reported hearing five shots.

Investigators have not released further information on the incident.