LAKE ELSINORE: Off-duty LASD deputy run down by alleged vehicle burglars, opens fire

LAKE ELSINORE — An off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy was run down by three people trying to flee the scene of a suspected vehicle burglary earlier this morning in the area of Edgewood Drive and McVicker Canyon Park Road in Lake Elsinore.

The injured officer opened fire on the trio, injuring one of them, according to officials. Although injured as well, the off-duty deputy managed to take one of the alleged suspects into custody and the other two were eventually apprehend as well.

Officials from both the Riverside County and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Departments are now investigating the shooting as well as alleged vehicle burglary that led to it.

Although officials have not publicly identified the three alleged suspects, jail records indicated Jessica Renee Cortez, 19, and Mark Gregory Bernard, 35, were later booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on various charges related to the incident. No information about the third person involved in the incident was available.

The incident began just after 3:30 a.m., when the off-duty deputy “witnessed a possible vehicle burglary in progress,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Chris Willison explained in a written press release after the shooting and arrests. The suspected vehicle burglary was happening in a normally quiet residential neighborhood in the foothills above McVicker Park.

“The deputy identified himself and attempted to detain the suspect (who) fled to a waiting vehicle,” said Willison, who explained the vehicle was occupied by two other people.

The alleged suspects “refused to surrender and drove into the deputy, causing injury, at which point a deputy involved shooting occurred,” said Willison.

After the shooting, the trio abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot, according to Willison, who did not specify what caused the three to abandon their vehicle after the shooting.

The off-duty deputy “immediately apprehended” one of the three suspects and called 911 to report the incident and shooting. The other two initially escaped on foot, according to Willison.

Deputies converged on the area and quickly apprehended one suspect in the immediate vicinity. The final alleged suspect was apprehended after an extensive search.

One suspect sustained a “minor injury” during the shooting, according to Willison. That person was treated at an area hospital for their injury. No citizens were injured as a result of the incident.

Although there were no serious injuries related to the incident, because the shooting involved a law enforcement officer, investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department also sent an investigative team to the scene to assist Riverside County officials in their investigation, while conducting their own internal investigation. The involved LASD deputy was placed on administrative leave, in accordance with his department’s policy.

According to jail records, the driver, Jessica Renee Cortez, 19, was arrested at 2 p.m., at the Lake Elsinore Police Station and she was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon against a police officer. She remains in custody, held on $25,000 and is scheduled to be arraigned at Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, Mar. 8.

Mark Gregory Bernard was arrested at the Lake Elsinore Police Station at 5:30 p.m., and he was booked on suspicion of petty theft and was cited and released within hours of his arrest. He is scheduled to be arraigned at Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, May 2.

The investigation is active and ongoing and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit has encouraged anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Investigator Barajas at (760) 393-3522 or Investigator Kelleher of the Lake Elsinore Station at (951) 245-3300. Callers can refer to incident file number L180650009 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

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.