Location: 45400 Block of Road 128

Incident Date: 3-10-14

Incident Time: 2215

Case Number: 14-03078

City: Orange Cove

Posted by: Media Relations

On 3-10-14 at about 10:15 pm, two veteran deputies from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Orosi substation responded to the 45400 Block of Road 128 in rural Orange Cove in regards to a suspected theft in progress. Upon arrival, deputies located a male suspect during the commission of the crime.  Deputies attempted to contact and detain the suspect for further investigation, at which time he entered a vehicle and drove it towards a deputy to be used as a deadly weapon.  Deputies attempted to stop the suspect from using the vehicle as a deadly weapon by firing their department issued handguns.  The suspect still managed to ram one of the stationary patrol vehicles with the deputy still inside.  He then fled the scene blacked out at a high rate of speed northbound Road 128 to the area of Avenue 460 where he managed to elude pursuing deputies involved in the shooting.  The deputies were uninjured during the incident and on-going efforts are being made in trying to locate the vehicle and identify the suspect.  As departmental procedure, the deputies were placed on paid administrative leave pending their return to work.

The suspect is described as a male adult, bald, wearing glasses, last seen wearing an unknown colored t-shirt with a distinctive logo of a female wearing a ball cap with a circle and a star in the center, shorts, and unknown type light color shoes.  The suspect vehicle is described as maroon in color, mid-size sedan (possibly a Chevy Malibu or Honda Accord) with four doors a sunroof and chrome wheels.

The case is currently under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Unit.  Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Detective F. Cotton or Sgt. R. Parker at (559)733-6218.

Anyone with information can also report anonymously to tcso@tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at (559) 725-4194.