JURUPA VALLEY: Officers injured, deputy hospitalized, after deputy-involved shooting, pursuit

JURUPA VALLEY — Two officers were injured and a deputy was hospitalized as a precaution after officials apprehended a PRCS probationer following a violent confrontation, arson-fire and deputy-involved shooting, Monday afternoon, Dec. 4.

During the incident the suspect, who was later identified as Clinton Jeffrey Althizer, 40, of Jurupa Valley, repeatedly rammed a stolen vehicle into a deputy’s patrol vehicle, led pursuing officials on a pursuit, set fire to the stolen vehicle and surrounding vegetation along the Santa Ana River bottom and fought with law enforcement officers before being taken into custody.

Two Riverside PD officers sustained minor injuries as a result of Althizer’s arrest and the deputy involved in the incident was later taken to a local area hospital as a medical precaution, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Chris Willison explained in a written press release after the incident and arrest.

Officials did not specify the nature or extent of the officers’ or deputy’s injuries.

The incident began about noon when a deputy from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Jurupa Valley Station responded to the area of Bellegrave Avenue and Van Buren Boulevard in Jurupa Valley regarding a previously reported stolen vehicle.

The deputy located the stolen vehicle being driven by Althizer and attempted to conduct a traffic enforcement stop. However, during the traffic stop, Althizer reversed the stolen vehicle – smashing into the patrol unit several times  – at which time “a deputy involved shooting occurred,” said Willison.

Officials did not specify how many times the deputy discharged their weapon.

After the shooting, Althizer fled in the stolen vehicle.

Althizer led the deputy on a vehicle pursuit that covered about five miles and ended when the suspect exited the vehicle in the Santa Ana River-bottom area near Riverdale Place and fled from the stolen vehicle after intentionally setting it and the surrounding vegetation ablaze.

With assistance from Riverside PD officers, Althizer was located in the area of Tyler Street and Jurupa Avenue and after a brief struggle officials arrested the violent and combative man.

Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters responded to the vehicle and vegetation fire and assisted Riverside City Fire with extinguishing the arson blaze. They also evaluated and treated the Riverside police officers as well as the deputy, before the deputy was transported to an area hospital as a “medical precaution,” Willison explained.

After his arrest, Althizer was also transported to an area hospital for a medical evaluation and clearance required for booking.

After receiving a medical clearance, Althizer was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, attempted assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest with violence, recklessly evading arrest, two counts of arson and violation of PRCS probation.

An online jail records search revealed Althizer remains in custody and is being held without bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Dec 6.

Because of the deputy-involved shooting, investigators from the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation and the deputy involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave, per Department policy.

No citizens were injured during the incident.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has encouraged anyone with information regarding the investigation or who witnessed all or part of the incident to contact Central Homicide Unit Investigator Stoyer at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number JV173380070 and can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.