On Sep. 5, around 9:30 p.m.,  on-duty Fresno Police Detective Benito Soto hit and killed 51-year-old Jose Luis Pulido as he was crossing Fresno Street at E Street. Pulido (unhoused) was known to many as Guero. Friends describe him as someone who would share with others even when he didn’t have much himself. On the night he was struck, they say he was bringing his bike over to where he was planning to sleep that night – but he never made it.

 Jose  Luis "Wuero" Pulido's sister reached out to Gloria Hernandez with No more Stolen Lives about what she found out in the police report. Gloria then reached out to Dez Martinez with We are Not Invisible, an Advocate for the unhoused in Fresno CA. 

On Friday September 25th 2020, W.A.N.I. (We are not Invisible) held a Vigil in honor of Jose Luis "Wuero" Pulido & to raise awareness about his murder and who needs to be held accountable. Many unhoused friends of Guero spoke out about who it was that killed their friend. Unfortunately, no one believed a cop would be responsible for this crime. It took a family member to request the police report to find out the truth.

 Here is the 1st article published Sept 26th 2020 prior to the release of Detective Benito Soto name given to public ;                                          https://abc30.com/jose-pulido-fresno-cop-hits-man-homeless-killed-by-vigil/6571369/

Here is the 1st article published  3 months later releasing what the investigation found;                                                        https://kmph.com/news/local/investigation-finds-officer-was-texting-at-time-of-deadly-crash-in-fresno

Article following charges and court May 3, 2021;              https://abc30.com/fresno-police-officer-accident-polcie-jose-pulido/10575284/

Court Docket

https://unicourt.com/case/ca-fre2-the-people-of-the-state-of-california-vs-benito-vernon-soto-87469

Detective Benito Soto charges have been dropped down to a plea of 6 months probation. We are asking you to sign this petition to show the Judge that many are in solidarity and want Detective Soto to be held accountable to the fullest that the law allows which would be 1 year in County jail for his actions that prevented him from safety and protection of our community. Something that could have been avoided. Below is the letter we will be sending to the Judge with your signatures. please help us spread awareness and share this petition. Deadline is this week by Wednesday January 25, 2023

Shame on the Fresno County District Attorney for suggesting a plea bargain, for not pursuing justice by ethically and aggressively prosecuting Detective Soto for violating the laws he is hired to enforce.

 

Justice for Jose Luis "WUERO" Pulido

Dear Honorable Judge,

We, the undersigned are writing to request that you do not agree to the plea bargain that is being offered to Detective Benito Soto for the following reasons:

Detective Soto failed in his fundamental duty to safeguard a life and did not obey the law by texting while driving showing failure to exercise due care by driving recklessly.

He failed to abide by CVC section 21950, and (c) (D) and 23123.5 section (a) clearly demonstrates his failure of his duty to exercise “due care for the safety of any pedestrian in a marked crosswalk.” The police department accused Mr. Jose Luis “ Wuero” Pulido of walking across a red light and being under the influence of an illegal substance. Whether he was or was not walking illegally is not an issue under CVC section 21950(d). Furthermore, what the department and the District Attorney do not state publicly is that Mr. Jose Luis “Wuero” Pulido was disabled and walked with a limp while pushing a bicycle across the crosswalk.

Detective Soto failed to drive at a safe speed (CVC section 22350) and could have avoided hitting and killing Mr. Jose “Guero” Pulido if he had driven safely and not the 10 miles above the speed limit as required under CVC 21950(c) (d) for a pedestrian crossing a marked crosswalk.

The Department also conducts annual “Distracted while Driving” campaigns targeting Fresno civilians who drive while texting and driving by informing the public that CVC section 23123.5 will not only get them a costly citation but also face higher consequences of higher insurance costs and possibly safe lives.

We the undersign, demand Justice for Mr. Jose “Guero” Pulido, we demand transparency and accountability from police officers who are supposed to be held to a higher standard than civilians. We ask that Detective Benito Soto be held accountable, and he be held to that higher standard.

This petition is being submitted by Dez Martinez; We Are Not Invisible (725-502-9457 ) And Gloria Hernandez, No More Stolen Lives (559- 250- 2434)