A wild pursuit and a deputy-involved shootout on New Year's Eve has led to a dragnet for two suspects accused of commandeering a stolen vehicle and slamming into a police car in Wildomar, according to Riverside County Sheriff's officials. The incident sparked at 1:09 p.m. when a deputy located the stolen ride on Cervera and Prairie Roads and tried to pull it over, but the suspects weren't having it. In a daring move, the driver whipped a U-turn to ram the deputy's car door, triggering gunfire from law enforcement. The collision left the cop car out of action.
The duo bolted from their crashed getaway car. Witnesses were quick to pipe up with descriptions of the runners, leading cops to eventually nab the duo in Temecula, only a few hours later. Notably, one of the suspects bore the marks of the earlier exchange — injuries that appeared to sync up with the gunplay they had initiated.
Meanwhile, the deputy got off with mere scrapes and bruises. The law says he's now on paid time off. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office is investigating, with their Force Investigations Detail taking the lead.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is calling on the public to be their eyes and ears. Check out their appeal on their website.
