The Critical Incident Review Board says a Bakersfield Police officer was acting within department, state, and federal guidelines when he fatally shot a 73-year-old unarmed dementia patient.

Chief Lyle Martin says Officer Reagan Selman had retreated several times and was cornered between two houses before he fired seven shots at Francisco Serna on Silver Birch Avenue last December. Martin says Selman had also asked the man repeatedly to take his hand out of his pocket.

Police were there for calls of a man with a revolver in his jacket, which turned out to be a crucifix.

Kelli Forsch