Sandy MaloneHesperia, CA – A Hesperia sheriff’s station deputy is in critical condition after having been shot in a shopping center parking lot on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident began at about 1 p.m. on March 23 when a San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy responded to the Bear Valley RV and Self Storage for an “unwanted person” on the property, KTLA reported.
The suspect had left by the time the deputy arrived, but the deputy spotted the suspect’s vehicle – a faded red Ford Explorer – nearby in the parking lot by an AutoZone and an Aldi grocery store.
San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department Spokeswoman Cindy Bachman said the deputy approached the suspect’s vehicle to talk to the man and a confrontation occurred, KTLA reported.
“I don’t know for sure if the deputy was shot with his own gun,” Bachman told reporters at the scene, according to KCAL.
The gunman fled the scene after he shot the deputy.
She said the deputy was alive because of the efforts of a good Samaritan, the Daily Press reported.
“We are not sure exactly what happened, but the deputy was shot in the arm and the deputy likely has some other injuries from falling to the ground,” Bachman explained to reporters. “There was a citizen somewhere in the shopping center that came to the deputy’s aid, got on his radio and advised dispatch there was an officer down.”
Deputies responding to the deputy-involved shooting spotted the suspect’s vehicle fleeing the scene on Apple Valley Road and pursued it, the Daily Press reported.
Bachman said they followed the suspect to a residential area in the open desert near the “south end of town.”
She said the suspect stopped his vehicle at the end of a dirt road, got out, and started shooting, the Daily Press reported.
“When he exited the vehicle, he immediately began shooting at the deputies,” Bachman said.
Deputies returned fire and shot the suspect.
The suspect was transported to the hospital for treatment, the Daily Press reported.
His condition is unknown.
Hesperia deputy has been shot near Bear Valley Rd and Jacaranda Ave, he has been transported to a local hospital for treatment. Suspect is in custody. Avoid the area due to police activity. PIO enroute to the scene, more information to follow as it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/DDsQ31OaTD
— San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) March 23, 2021
No deputies were wounded in that gunfight, according to KTLA
The wounded deputy was airlifted to the trauma center at Loma Linda University Health, KCAL reported.
he then fired at those deputies. Deputies returned fire striking the suspect. The suspect was transported to a local hospital for treatment. We do not have an update on his condition at the moment. More information to follow as it becomes available.
— San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) March 24, 2021
He was immediately taken into surgery and remained in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit as of Wednesday morning.
UPDATE: Our deputy is currently out of surgery; however, he is in critical condition and in the ICU. The family and Department appreciate all the outpouring of support, thoughts, and prayers. No further information is available at this time. pic.twitter.com/nitVjvsF1B
— San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) March 24, 2021
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has not yet released the identity of the wounded deputy.
The city of Hesperia has had a contract with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for its police services since 1988, according to the county website.
The Hesperia Police Department consists of 58 sworn sheriff’s deputies and officials from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Holly Matkin
