Upland police officers fatally shot a man whose family said he was high on fentanyl and had a knife on Sunday, Jan. 12 after he tried to flee police, did not comply with their commands and reached into his waistband after being told to stop doing so, a critical incident video released by the department shows. The video also shows officers using less than lethal ammunition as they ask the man to stop reaching into his waistband, which he continued to do as he tried to run away from officers. Officers responded to the scene and began a short pursuit when the man fled after a family member called police reporting that the man had a knife and was under the influence of drugs. The critical incident review video can be viewed here, viewer discretion advised. The man has been identified as 36-year-old Steven Espinoza. Steven Espinoza, 36, was fatally shot by Upland Police after a family member called police and reported that he was high on fentanyl and has threated her, himself and anyone in the house.(Photo Courtesy of Upland Police Department) The man’s sister placed a 911 call, stating that her brother was on fentanyl and “being very delirious,” describing his behavior as “psychosis,” or “some kind of psychotic episode.” She said Espinoza threatened her life, his own life, as well as the life of anyone in the house. She referenced his criminal history, stating that she’d “had enough” and that he had a knife. When asked by the operator if he would be combative with officers, she responded “most likely, yes.” She told the dispatcher that Espinoza said he intended to hold others inside the home in an apartment complex on the 1300 block of W. Foothill Boulevard hostage and that he would not speak to police, the video shows. When Upland officers arrived at the scene just before 10 a.m., he fled in a white vehicle, hit a police car and officers pursued the vehicle. During the pursuit, he lost control of the vehicle, which rolled over into a grassy area in front of an apartment complex in the 800 block of N. Mountain Avenue. In body camera video from the scene, Espinoza can be seen getting out of the car and attempting to run away as officers run after him with less lethal weapons. At this point in the video, a background noise can be heard, which the police department stated came from Espinoza’s vehicle. Multiple officers can be heard yelling “stop reaching,” but police say Espinoza continued to reach into his waistband. Espinoza can be seen on the ground, falling as he tries to run away from officers. He “refused to obey officers commands,” the video notes. Officers then deployed less lethal ammunition as Espinoza rolled on the ground, allegedly continuing to reach into his waistband, before an officer involved shooting occurred and Espinoza later died at a hospital. The video shows officers recovering two knives that Espinoza had on his person. The San Bernardino County Sheriff and District Attorney’s Office will take over the investigation, “to ensure complete impartiality.” An administrative investigation is also being conducted within the UPD to ensure that policy was followed, UPD Chief Marcelo Blanco said. “Once the investigation is concluded, we are committed to releasing the outcome to our community,” he said. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | LA region faces another ‘potentially dangerous situation’ with high winds and fire threat Crime and Public Safety | Prison abuse, deaths and escapes prompt calls for more oversight Crime and Public Safety | Man pleads guilty to setting fire to Yucaipa church Crime and Public Safety | Corona man accused of shooting at another driver after traffic collision Crime and Public Safety | Investigators looking into whether Palisades fire kicked off by previous blaze