Sheriff releases video of shootout between suspect and SLO County deputies
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office released dash and body camera footage of a shootout between a Templeton man and deputies in January.
According to the agency, 37-year-old Thomas Farrell allegedly fired a gun at deputies who were responding to reports of an intoxicated man shooting a pistol in the 1200 block of Main St. in Templeton near the high school at around 10 p.m. on Jan. 29.
Farrell was injured in the shootout and has since been charged with two counts of attempted murder of a peace officer by the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office. He is currently in San Luis Obispo County Jail custody without bail, records show.
The reporting party named Farrell as the suspect and said he was under the influence of “whippets,” or nitrous oxide gas, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tony Cipolla said in the narration of the video, which was released Tuesday “as required by state law.”
The video begins by showing two patrol vehicles arriving on the scene. According to Cipolla, the vehicles were clearly patrol cars because they were marked vehicles.
The video released by the department appears to be the dash camera from the vehicle trailing behind. The second patrol car does not appear to have its lights on, as the video is very dark. Light emitted throughout the video appears to be from the first patrol car and deputy flashlights.
Video shows the vehicle driving onto a property when shots are suddenly heard.
Slowed down video shows what the Sheriff’s Office says is a “muzzle flash” underneath a tree on the left side of the video. A muzzle flash is the light emitted when a firearm discharges. Not all firearms emit a muzzle flash.
The first patrol car then stops, and the silhouette of Farrell can be seen following and pointing his gun at the vehicle.
The first patrol car then sped forward and Farrell ran toward the second patrol car, Cipolla said.
While the video remains dark, deputies can be heard yelling commands at Farrell, and more gunshots follow.
Cipolla said deputies in the second patrol car then exited the vehicle. One of the deputies fired several shots with his handgun at Farrell, striking him.
Farrell can then be seen on the right side of the driveway, Cipolla narrated. The area where Farrell appears to be has been blurred out in the video, which is standard for public versions of officer-involved shootings.
Farrell was “held at gunpoint for approximately two and a half minutes” as more deputies arrived at the scene. Farrell’s handgun was located near where he was lying.
No deputies were harmed, but the first patrol vehicle was shot three times, a photo showed. Farrell was struck twice and transported to the hospital to treat his injuries, Cipolla said.
The District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the deputy’s use-of-force at the incident to determine if the shooting was justifiable, Cipolla said. The Sheriff’s Office professional standards unit is also reviewing the incident in compliance with agency policy.
Deputies involved were also placed on paid administrative after the incident and offered wellness services and support before they could return to work, Cipolla said, which is agency policy.
The video “illustrates the danger that law enforcement faces,” San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said at the end of the video.
Farrell’s next court hearing was scheduled for April 28, court records show.
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM.
