Authorities release bodycam footage of December deputy-involved shooting in Palm Desert
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office released bodycam video of a deputy-involved shooting that occurred on Dec. 10 in Palm Desert.
The suspect, identified as Kelly Lynette Cronn, 53, of Palm Desert, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting.
Deputies were initially called to the 49000 block of State Highway 74 at 2:45 a.m. Sunday to respond to reports of a burglary.
"The reporting party told dispatch she was hiding in her bedroom because there was an unidentified man inside her residence whom she believed was armed," Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said in a video released Thursday.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office later confirmed to News Channel 3 that Cronn was the person who called police about the possible break-in.
Bianco said deputies arrived at the residence and found an open door. The bodycam footage shows the moments deputies entered the residence, announcing themselves as they stepped inside.
Inside, deputies encountered a compliant man who was detained without incident.
Shortly after the man is detained, Cronn walks out of a backroom armed with a knife.
Bodycam footage shows the deputies continually instruct Cronn to drop the knife. After multiple orders to drop the knife, Cronn is seen throwing it at the deputies, leading to the deputy-involved shooting.
Cronn was arrested on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon upon a peace officer. She pleaded not guilty to the charges a few days after the shooting.
The first suspect was taken to the Palm Desert sheriff's station and interviewed but was later released, a spokesperson for the agency said. The deputy who was involved in the shooting, who was not identified by the sheriff's department, was set to be placed on administrative leave per department policy.
All deputy-involved shootings are investigated by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, with assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff's Force Investigation Details and the Riverside County Sheriff's Office Central Homicide Unit.
Bianco said this investigation with examine Cronn's actions and the deputy-involved shooting.
Anyone with information on the burglary or shooting was asked to call Riverside County District Attorney Investigator J.R. Ferrer at 951-955-2700 or Riverside County Sheriff's Master Investigator Martin Alfaro at 760-393-3528.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.
