A San Joaquin County man was taken into custody early this morning after firing at deputies, mistaking them for suspects reportedly fleeing the scene of a triggered security alarm at a local salvage yard. According to ABC 10, deputies arrived at the Pick-N-Pull on Clark Drive in Stockton around 1:30 a.m. in response to the alarm. Upon arrival, they saw three individuals fleeing and pursued them down a canal path, eventually positioning themselves behind a cement barrier located at the border of a Buddhist temple and an adjacent house, as per the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.
Meanwhile, a homeowner who received an alert from his security camera engaged his grandson, who had access to an AR-15, and took it upon himself to canvas the vicinity in a golf cart. The situation escalated when the grandson, unaware of the deputies' identities, discharged two shots in their direction before they were identified as law enforcement officers.
In a possibly deadly confusion, the grandson reportedly fired shots thinking he was facing the individuals responsible for the alarm disturbance, one shot ricocheted, marking the cement just below the deputies' vantage point; fortunately, the deputies did not return fire and instead commanded the young man to surrender—which he did without further incident, as noted by CBS News Sacramento.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the potential dangers of citizens taking on responsibilities typically reserved for trained professionals, stating, "Taking the law into your own hands can escalate conflicts and lead to tragic outcomes," as reported by CBS News Sacramento. The young man now faces charges that include assault with a deadly weapon and possession of an assault weapon and a high-capacity magazine. The initial alarm that drew the deputies to the Pick-N-Pull remains unresolved, with the suspects apparently at large and no clear description provided.
