Ventura County Sheriff's Sergeant's SUV Overturns After Being Rammed, Suspect Arrested For Attempted Murder
VENTURA (CBSLA) — A Ventura County sheriff's patrol vehicle was overturned and a suspect is in custody after authorities say the SUV was deliberately rammed from behind.
According to Ventura County sheriff's officials, a patrol sergeant was driving at about 2 a.m. on Los Angeles Avenue, which turns into the 118 Freeway, when he was rammed from behind. Authorities say the sergeant increased his speed and changed lanes because he thought the driver possibly fell asleep at the wheel or was driving under the influence.
The driver rammed the patrol vehicle a second time, forcing the sergeant's SUV to spin out of control and overturn, sheriff's officials said.
UNPROVOKED ATTACK: A suspect twice used his vehicle to ram into our HQ patrol Sgt's cruiser early this morning in Saticoy, causing the Sgt's unit to overturn. Sgt. has minor injuries, and suspect in custody. pic.twitter.com/QU9clLQpc0
— Ventura County Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) August 18, 2020
The sergeant, a 37-year veteran of the department who was not identified, was still pinned in his patrol vehicle but was was able to tell dispatchers what direction the suspect was last seen driving. Another deputy found the suspect in Santa Paula and gave chase. The chase ended with a crash, and the suspect was taken into custody in the east end of the Santa Paula area.
The deputy was taken to a hospital as a precaution and was determined to have suffered minor injuries.
The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Frankie Avalos, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer.