Full Notification

Cases involving a missing child are one of the most emotional ones we investigate.  To the family of the missing child, this is the most horrific worst case scenario of their lives.  To the officers investigating the case, the stakes couldn’t be higher.  We understand the emotional roller coaster the family is going through.  Our first concern however is with the missing child and bringing them home safe.  The Fairfield Police Department has a variety of resources available which we utilized in the case of Brock Guzman.   We have an obligation and duty to be as thorough as possible and consider everything that may have occurred.     Here is a summary of the timeline of the events on April 20, 2015 –

04:47am               Call received by Fairfield Police Dispatch

04:50am               First Fairfield Police Officers on scene

04:56am               Supervisor requests activation of the County Wide Intersection Observation Plan

05:00am               Vehicle is entered into the state Stolen Vehicle System

05:11am               Supervisor requests an Amber Alert be initiated

05:19am               Emergency Notification Tactical Alert Center at the CHP was contacted to issue the Amber Alert

As these events were unfolding numerous officers were searching Fairfield for the vehicle and Brock.  Once all the immediate resources were activated, officers began the basic steps of investigating the missing child.  One of the basic steps is to search areas where the child may hide when they are afraid, including inside their home.  Even though our initial information was that Brock was last seen in the vehicle, it was only assumed he remained inside when it was stolen.  In order to account for every possible scenario, including Brock escaping as the vehicle was being taken, officers requested to search the Guzman home to make sure Brock was not inside hiding.   

 Suzanne Guzman refused to consent to officers checking her home for Brock.  A Police Sergeant and one of our Crisis Intervention trained officers spoke to Suzanne Guzman for several minutes in an attempt to explain why we needed to search her home and gain compliance.  Suzanne Guzman continually refused, at one point demanding we get a search warrant.  Officers became so concerned they had dispatchers log the fact we were being denied entry into the home. 

Based on the growing concern for Brock, and the exigent need to check the home, officers approached the front door.  As they did, one officer saw a “reddish substance smeared in the carpet” that at first look appeared to be blood.  Suzanne Guzman got up and pushed past officers toward the front door attempting to enter the residence.   Suzanne Guzman refused to move away from the door and struggled with officers as they attempted to move her away from the door.  After a short struggle, she was detained in handcuffs.  Paul Guzman was also later detained in handcuffs for trying to interfere with officers searching the home.

The officers of the Fairfield Police Department understand the emotional response by the family in this situation.  The safety of Brock Guzman was of the utmost concern to us.  It was the actions of the family during this investigation that caused us concern and ultimately led to their arrest.  Both Suzanne and Paul Guzman were later released without any charges being filed.  The investigation into the car theft and kidnapping is ongoing.  

Officer Body Camera Video from this incident can be viewed on our You Tube page at -

https://www.youtube.com/user/FairfieldPolice/videos