Dangerous Hemet pursuit ends with crash, shots fired
HEMET, Calif. — A dangerous pursuit involving a stolen pickup truck and loaded trailer wound its way through Hemet before ending with an officer involved shooting overnight, Friday, June 12.
The alleged suspect, who was not struck by the officer’s gunfire, was arrested and transported to an area hospital “as a precaution”, according to officials who are now investigating the early-morning incident.
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This morning’s incident began around 3:30 a.m., when City of Hemet police officers spotted a pickup truck and trailer being driven on 1700 block of San Andres Dr., Hemet Police Lt. Nate Miller later said of the pursuit and officer involved shooting.
When officers learned the vehicle, later described as a white Ford commercial pickup truck pulling a trailer loaded with equipment, had been reported stolen they attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
However, the driver – who has not yet been publicly identified – refused to yield to officers’ lights and sirens and sped away from officials; at which time officers initiated a vehicle pursuit, according to Miller.
A Hemet pursuit ended with shots fired inside a residential neighborhood overnight. Janice Billow photo
During the pursuit, the alleged suspect drove in an extremely reckless manner without regard for the safety of pursuing officers or other citizens.
Officials radio traffic at the time indicated the driver was seen running all stop signs and stop lights, driving on the wrong side of the street, and swerving dangerously into oncoming traffic.
As the pursuit continued traveling throughout Hemet for several more minutes, officers managed to successfully deploy spike strips in the area of N. Lyon and Devonshire avenues.
Officers soon reported that the spike deployment had caused several tires on the pickup and trailer to flatten, causing the pursuit speeds to drop considerably.
Despite having several flat tires, the driver continued fleeing at speeds of 35 to 40 mph.
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As the driver continued fleeing they eventually lost control of the stolen Ford and trailer less than a mile from where the dangerous pursuit began, causing the vehicle to crash into a palm tree in front of a private residence on the 2400 block of San Padre Ave.
Moments later, about 3:36 a.m., officers reported that shots had been fired; at which time officials from around the area converged on the neighborhood where the shooting occurred.
The suspect was subsequently taken into custody and later transported to an area hospital “as a precaution”, explained Miller; who said no officers or citizens were injured during the pursuit or shooting.
Officers cordoned of the neighborhood and Hemet PD’s Detective Bureau was summoned to assume the investigation into the incident. A department mobile command center was also brought to the scene to facilitate the subsequent hours-long investigation.
A drone is seen being launched from a mobile command center after shots were fired at the end of a dangerous, early-morning pursuit. Janice Billow photo
Officials still remained at the scene hours after the shooting, and officials were seen launching a department drone to survey and photograph the scene of the shooting from overhead.
“This is still an active investigation and further details including charges will be released as they become available,” said Miller.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact investigators at (951) 765-2400. Callers can remain anonymous.
Click any image to open full-size gallery.
Tina Rivas/Hemet Valley Incidents photo 
Janice Billow photo 
Janice Billow photo 
Janice Billow photo
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Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.
Is this just an ad for some news service or one of the most poorly written articles?
This photo was taken by Kristyanne Ingalls of Hemet. How did this photo become front page? She sent it to her neighbor because neighbor couldn’t see what was going on. Was this photo purchased?
The photo you are referring to was posted by Janice Billows to Hemet Valley Incidents, a public forum on Facebook. RCNS has had a years-long standing agreement with that page’s administrators to use any photos gathered or submitted to their page.
-TM
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