Deputy shot in San Bernardino, deputy cruiser found completely torched at scene

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. - A deputy with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department was shot Tuesday while attempting a traffic stop. Shocking video captured the moment more than a dozen shots were fired as the deputy tried to pull over the driver.

According to San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Shannon Dicus, one of his deputies was trying to get the suspect to pull over at around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Bobbett Drive and Olive Street.

According to police, the deputy was involved in a chase with the suspect, who was driving a white BMW.  During the pursuit the suspect made a turn, exited his vehicle, pulled out a rifle and waited for the deputy to arrive. Once the deputy arrived to the location, the suspect began firing his weapon.  

The deputy suffered minor injuries to his face as well as shrapnel hitting him in the arm, according to Dicus.

The deputy – who is a male in his late 20s and had been with the department for about four years – was alert, coherent and talking when he was at the hospital, Dicus said.

Sgt. Equino Thomas with the San Bernardino Police Department called the incident an ambush. 

"If this person is willing to shoot at deputies, officers… this person is dangerous to the public," Sgt. Thomas stated during a press conference Wednesday. 

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A completely burned-down deputy cruiser was found at the scene. Dicus said the torched cruiser was driven by the deputy who was shot, but authorities are still working to determine exactly what caused the vehicle to become engulfed in flames.

Hours after the shooting, officers with San Bernardino's city police department found a white BMW possibly belonging to the suspect at a home on Date Street. While searching the car, officers found the rifle used in the attack. 

On Wednesday afternoon, another officer-involved shooting occurred, this time in the Highland area. Two SWAT officers were injured and the suspect, believed to be involved in Tuesday’s shooting, was killed at the scene. 

RELATED: 2 officers hurt, person killed in shooting believed to be suspect in Tuesday's San Bernardino ambush

Officers were surveilling the suspect for hours Wednesday and moved in to apprehend him… at that time an officer-involved shooting occurred.  The two injured officers were taken to the hospital; their condition is not known.

The suspect has not been identified, but police say he is believed to be involved in Tuesday’s deputy ambush.

The San Bernardino Police Department is the led agency investigating the case. Anyone with information is urged to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and Police Department. 

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