FRESNO, Calif. — Authorities have identified the man who died by suicide after a confrontation with Fresno Police as 32-year-old Isaac Hare, a former Madera County Sheriff’s Deputy and Fresno resident. The tragic incident unfolded Tuesday after detectives arranged to meet Hare at the northwest Fresno Police Station amid an ongoing criminal investigation.
According to Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto, Hare had been under investigation for retail theft and impersonating a police officer. Detectives had planned to take him into custody when he arrived for the meeting, but the situation quickly escalated. Police said Hare resisted arrest and allegedly tried to draw a firearm during the encounter. Officers deployed a Taser multiple times before managing to subdue and restrain him.
Once in custody, Hare was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation following the Taser deployment. However, what began as a standard procedure soon turned into tragedy. According to police, while at the hospital, Hare asked to use the restroom. During that moment, he suddenly attacked an officer and managed to gain control of the officer’s gun. In a shocking turn of events, Hare then turned the weapon on himself, suffering a fatal gunshot wound before officers could intervene.
Chief Casto confirmed that Hare died from his injuries shortly afterward. She did not provide details about when Hare served with the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, though sources indicate he was no longer employed there at the time of his death. The department expressed condolences to everyone affected, acknowledging the incident’s emotional toll on both law enforcement and the community.
The Fresno Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit and the Department’s Homicide Detectives are now conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Hare’s death. The review will include how he was able to access the officer’s weapon while in custody and whether standard safety protocols were followed at the hospital.
Authorities said additional details will be released once the investigation is complete. Meanwhile, the department has called for patience and transparency as they seek to understand the series of events that led to the former deputy’s tragic final moments.