Sheriff’s K-9 shot after 130 mph, multi-agency pursuit of robbery suspects ends in Murrieta – 3 in custody

UPDATE: Monday, Sept. 6, 8:34 a.m., With correction of where pursuit ended.
UPDATE: Monday, Sept. 6, 12:09 p.m., With Murrieta PD Press Release
UPDATE: Monday, Sept. 6, 1:02 p.m., With video footage from the scene, (which can be viewed below).

Writer’s Note/Correction: As this incident was unfolding, a very early release of this article indicated that this pursuit ended in Temecula, while it actually ended in Murrieta. Sorry for any confusion this article’s original title may have caused.
-TM

Authorities say a San Diego robbery led to a dangerous high-speed pursuit that travelled to Riverside County late Sunday evening, Sept. 5, ended when three suspects abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot in the City of Murrieta. Although two of the fleeing men, including the suspect who shot the K-9, were quickly apprehended while trying to carjack another vehicle, a third man managed to continue eluding officials as he fled from the area.

The third man who ran from the vehicle was eventually captured and arrested after what CHP later called a “massive” manhunt that involved at least six agencies, multiple K-9s and two helicopters.

The K-9 shot during the violent incident is expected to make a full recovery and the three suspects are now in custody, according to CHP.

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Just before midnight, San Diego County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to reports of an armed robbery at a convenience store in the community of Lakeside, CHP Officer Mike Lassig has since reported.

Responding deputies observed three men, at least one of whom was armed with a handgun, running from the store and entering a gray BMW sedan.

When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver refused to yield to their lights and sirens and accelerated away from officials at a high rate of speed, at which time deputies initiated a vehicle pursuit.

The suspect’s vehicle can be seen with a shattered rear window, as officers worked at a Shell gas station where last night’s dangerous vehicle pursuit came to a conclusion. ABC 10 News image

As the pursuit traversed several San Diego area freeways at speeds up to 130 mph, CHP took over the chase as it traveled northbound on Interstate 15, in the Mira Mesa area of San Diego.

During the ensuing chase, the BMW exited and reentered the freeway twice, at one point ramming a CHP patrol vehicle on Winchester Road, in the City of Temecula.

The BMW then continued north on Interstate 215, where the driver exited the Los Alamos Road offramp in Murrieta, at which time one of the passengers “fired multiple rounds from a pistol at the pursuing officers,” Lassig described; saying, “A CHP patrol vehicle was struck by the gunfire; however, no officers were struck or injured.”

The BMW then entered a Shell gas station on Los Alamos Road, just east of Interstate 215, where all three suspects abandoned the BMW and fled on foot into the parking lot of a nearby shopping center. At least two of the suspects then attempted – unsuccessfully – to carjack a vehicle from two victims who happened to be driving by.

“A San Diego County Sheriff’s Department canine was released and contacted one of the suspects, who suffered bite wounds,” Lassig explained; adding, “The suspect shot the canine, before continuing to run.”

CHP officers promptly arrested two of the suspects, including the man who had shot the Sheriff’s K-9 without further incident; however, the third suspect remained at large for just over an hour, according to Lassig.

Over the next hour, a massive, coordinated search effort was conducted, he continued; saying the search involved helicopters from CHP and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department; along with members of the CHP, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Murrieta Police Department, Menifee Police Department, and Hemet Police Department.

The third suspect was eventually located by a Murrieta Police Department canine, and the suspect suffered multiple bite wounds; but was ultimately arrested, according to Lassig; who added there are no longer any outstanding suspects.

“With the help of a Murrieta police canine, the third suspect was found hiding in the bushes a short distance away and eventually taken into custody,” Murrieta PD has since explained in a press release (which can be seen below).

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department canine was rushed to a nearby emergency veterinary clinic for medical treatment of its gunshot injuries. The police service dog survived and was undergoing surgery as of this update, but is expected to make a full recovery, according to officials.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is handling the criminal investigation of the original armed robbery, while the CHP Investigative Services Unit is handling the criminal investigation of all crimes committed during the pursuit.

The Murrieta Police Department is handling the criminal investigation of the subsequent attempted carjacking and assault on the Sheriff’s canine.

The suspects, whose names have not yet been released, face multiple felony charges according to Lassig; including armed robbery, attempted murder of peace officers, attempted carjacking, and reckless evasion.

“They will be booked at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Cois Byrd Detention Center,” said Lassig.

Nathan Wilking/RVC News on-scene videos with interviews below.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

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 30 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 18 grandchildren.