Executive Summary
- Mental Health Warning: The suspect’s family contacted Woodland Police days before the crime spree, warning that Mohamed Husien was in active psychosis.
- Police Encounter: SJPD stated they were unaware of the suspect’s identity or mental condition during the pursuit, which ended in a shootout and Husien’s death.
- Search Warrant Dispute: The family alleges SJPD officers ransacked their home and failed to provide a warrant copy or receipt for seized items.
- Legal Expert Opinion: Independent legal experts suggest police are typically required to leave a warrant receipt even if the case is under seal.
- Formal Complaint: A complaint has been filed with SJPD’s Internal Affairs and the Independent Police Auditor regarding the search conduct.
The family of Mohamed Husien, a 30-year-old suspect killed by law enforcement following a violent multi-county crime spree in the Bay Area, has filed a formal complaint against the San Jose Police Department (SJPD). According to the family, they attempted to warn authorities of Husien’s deteriorating mental state prior to the incidents, and they are now challenging the conduct of officers during a subsequent search of their home.
According to reports from the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit, Husien was involved in a string of armed robberies and carjackings on January 21, culminating in shootouts with police in Hollister and the South Bay. Authorities state that during the final confrontation, Husien wounded a San Jose police sergeant before being shot and struck by a patrol vehicle, resulting in his death. Family members, however, contend that Husien was in the midst of a severe mental health crisis, characterized by active psychosis and grandiose delusions.
Records obtained by investigative reporters indicate that Husien’s sisters contacted the Woodland Police Department on January 16, days before the crime spree, to report his erratic behavior. In the recorded call, his sister Ragad Husien warned dispatchers that he was “actively in psychosis,” seeing demons, and might be non-cooperative, specifically requesting a mental health professional be present if officers located him. SJPD officials stated in an email that they were unaware of the suspect’s identity or mental health history during the rapid pursuit, citing his “escalating behavior and increased propensity for violence” as reasons for the inability to de-escalate.
The family’s complaint focuses heavily on the execution of a search warrant at their Davis residence the morning after the shooting. Family members allege that officers left the home in disarray, overturning mattresses and scattering belongings, and seized mobile devices without providing an itemized receipt or a copy of the warrant. While police informed the family the warrant was sealed by a judge, three independent legal experts told NBC Bay Area that law enforcement is generally required to leave a copy of the warrant and a list of seized items unless those specific documents are also explicitly sealed.
Procedural Oversight & Investigative Review
This case highlights critical intersections between law enforcement tactical responses and mental health intervention protocols. The filing of a formal complaint initiates an internal review process that will likely scrutinize not only the execution of the search warrant and the handling of sealed documents but also the communication pipelines between different jurisdictions regarding subjects in crisis. The Office of the Independent Police Auditor in San Jose has confirmed it is aware of the complaint, which will be treated as a matter separate from the officer-involved shooting investigation.
It is important to note that all individuals associated with criminal investigations are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and administrative complaints represent allegations that require formal adjudication.
