LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff's Office has issued an update on the circumstances surrounding a burglary, high-speed vehicle pursuit and the shooting of the suspect by a sheriff's deputy that occurred early Friday morning.
Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office, one of the agencies involved in the investigation, released the new details early Friday afternoon.
The incident began at Hillside Honda, located at 460 S. Main St., where Brooks said a Lakeport Police officer was dispatched at approximately 4:17 a.m. for an alarm call.
Brooks said the alarm company told Central Dispatch that the alarm was activated due to movement inside the business.
Shortly after the Lakeport Police officer arrived at the business, Brooks said the officer went in pursuit of the suspect vehicle, which Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen had confirmed to Lake County News was a pickup.
Sheriff’s deputies, who were dispatched to assist, immediately joined the Lakeport Police officer in the pursuit, Brooks said.
The suspect vehicle traveled westbound on Lakeport Boulevard where it turned northbound onto Highway 29, reaching speeds of approximately 100 miles per hour, according to Brooks.
He said the suspect vehicle took the 11th Street exit and turned left onto Scotts Valley Road, reaching speeds of approximately 70 miles per hour.
The pickup continued onto Riggs Road, where it hit a fence. After hitting the the fence, the suspect put his vehicle in reverse and rammed into the Lakeport Police officer's vehicle, Brooks said.
A sheriff’s deputy, who had exited his vehicle and witnessed the suspect ram the Lakeport Police vehicle, discharged his firearm at the suspect, said Brooks.
The suspect, who received multiple gunshot wounds, was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for medical treatment and then transported by air ambulance to a trauma center, where he underwent surgery, according to Brooks.
Early on Friday afternoon, the condition of the suspect was not known, Brooks said.
The investigation into the incident is being handled by several agencies, including the Lake County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office, which are in charge of the crime scene on Scotts Valley Road, with Rasmussen explaining that his agency is investigating the burglary.
The California Highway Patrol also is on scene.
Lake County Public Works reported that it has Riggs Road closed at the intersection of Scotts Valley and Scotts Creek roads while investigators conduct their work.