DA files charges against ex-cop involved in Pleasant Hill standoff

PLEASANT HILL, CA (Dec. 13, 2023) — The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has charged a Pleasant Hill resident with nine felony counts. The charges include attempted murder of peace officers, assault with a firearm, and injuring a spouse.

40-year-old Chunliam Nai Saechao is being held without bail in the Martinez Detention Facility. He will be arraigned on charges stemming from a December 8 shooting incident. Mr. Saechao, a retired Pittsburg Police officer, may have suffered a mental health episode. The former marine barricaded himself in his home for almost three days after he shot at his wife while she tried to gain entrance to their residence.

During the protracted standoff with police, Mr. Saechao fired on officers while they evacuated residents from nearby homes. Bullets also hit a police vehicle. Two officers inside the vehicle were not injured.

The complaint filed with the court today lists two counts of attempted murder of a peace officer [PC 187(a)], one count of injuring a spouse [PC 273.5(a)], and six counts of assault with a firearm on a peace officer or firefighter [PC 245(d)(1)]. The charges also come with enhancements for discharging or using a firearm in the offenses.