NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has identified the female armed robbery suspect who was shot and killed on Tuesday after she confronted sheriff’s deputies and police officers at the end of a high-speed vehicle pursuit.
Dawn Elika Center, 48, of Redwood Valley was identified as the suspect in the case, according to Capt. Gregory Van Patten.
Center was the suspect in a Tuesday morning armed robbery in which she took a Chevrolet Camaro at Thurston Auto Plaza in Ukiah, Van Patten said.
Van Patten said sheriff’s deputies, assisted by Willits Police officers, pursued Center on Highway 101 at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour before Center crashed the Camaro north of the Highway 101 bypass.
After the crash, Center got out of the car holding a handgun and confronted the deputies and officers, Van Patten said.
Center was shot and died at the scene. Van Patten said no officers or deputies were injured.
Van Patten said Center’s identity was confirmed by the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Coroner's Division on Wednesday.
He said the three deputy sheriffs involved in the shooting incident have all be placed on paid administrative leave in accordance with sheriff's office standard procedure, pending the ongoing investigation by the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office.
The three deputy sheriffs involved in the shooting incident have been employed at the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office for a total of 30 years, 11 years and four years respectively, Van Patten said.
Mendocino County authorities identify female armed robbery suspect killed after confronting deputies
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