A suspected drunk driver was shot by San Diego Sheriff‘s deputies in the Torrey Reserve after leading them on a pursuit across North County freeways Friday night.
The driver, whose name was not released, was shot in the upper torso and taken to a local hospital, where he remained in stable condition, according to Lt. Anthony Dupree of the San Diego Police Department, which is investigating the incident.
A deputy had tried to pull the man over in Vista near the intersection of Poinsettia Avenue and Linda Vista Drive just before 8:45 p.m. Friday when he took off, Dupree said.
The driver headed north on surface streets and entered westbound state Route 78 at Sycamore Avenue, then continued onto southbound Interstate 5, at times reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph.
During the pursuit, the driver called 911 and told the dispatcher he had a loaded handgun, a female passenger was in the car with him, and he wanted to commit “suicide by cop,” Dupree said.
The driver exited I-5 at Leucadia Boulevard and let his passenger out of the car before continuing to flee from officers back onto the freeway. He exited again at Carmel Valley Road and drove west, then veered south into the Torrey Reserve marsh, driving for about 200 yards before coming to a stop. The area is within San Diego city limits.
The driver got out of the car and began advancing toward deputies, who gave him “verbal commands,” Dupree said.
“The suspect kept his right hand behind his back and at one point quickly pointed something at the deputies while taking a shooting stance,” leading deputies to fire at the man, Dupree said.
The suspect was struck in the upper torso and was taken into custody. Deputies gave the man first aid until paramedics were able to take him to a hospital, Dupree said.
The deputies involved in the shooting are a 5-year veteran and a 2- year veteran of the sheriff’s department, Dupree said.
— City News Service