A 52-year-old Twentynine Palms man's run-in with San Bernardino law enforcement ended in an arrest Monday after he was accused of using his vehicle as a weapon against deputies. Stephen Bloomer now faces charges of attempted murder of a peace officer and felony assault on a peace officer following a series of events that began with a high-speed chase and concluded with collisions involving two law enforcement vehicles.
According to the SBSD Morongo Basin Sheriff's Department, deputies first spotted Bloomer speeding westbound on Twentynine Palms Highway. After failing to yield to deputies, the suspect continued driving erratically, prompting an abbreviated pursuit for the public's safety. The chase culminated outside a Circle K in Morongo Valley, where a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer located Bloomer's grey Corvette.
In a confrontation that escalated quickly, the suspect reversed into the CHP vehicle as an officer attempted to detain him, as per the Morongo Basin Sheriff's Department. Following this, an occupied Sheriff's patrol vehicle arriving to assist was rammed by Bloomer after he accelerated his Corvette forward. The deputy inside the vehicle sustained minor injuries but has been released from the hospital. The CHP officer was not harmed during the incident.
"Bloomer was taken into custody and later booked into the West Valley Detention Center for the above listed charges," as reported by the Sheriff's Department. In the wake of these events, authorities are seeking additional information from the public. Concerned citizens with any knowledge of the incident are encouraged to reach out to Deputy Richard Maldonado or Detective Tyler A. Bengard of the Morongo Basin Sheriff's Station. For those preferring anonymity, tips can be submitted through the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME or online at www.wetip.com.
