Suspect dodges bullets while escaping in sheriff patrol car

Police nabbed a suspect who reportedly stole a patrol car in Coachella Tuesday morning.

According to Riverside County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Cpl. Angel Ramos, just after 9am, a deputy responded to a vehicle burglary in progress call on Julia Way in Coachella.

The officer spotted the suspect walking away from the area and attempted to detain him. The suspect later identified as Arturo Reyes, age 23 from Coachella, physically attacked the deputy and ran away.

In a news release issued by the Sheriff’s Department late Tuesday, it stated, the deputy chased after Reyes who was able to elude the officer. Reyes later returned to the area and saw the officer’s patrol car parked there, entered the car and accelerated towards the deputy. The deputy then fired at Reyes who was able to escape the area.

Reyes ditched the car a short distance away. More officers came to the scene and a short time later they recovered the car and found Reyes and arrested him.

Reyes was not shot or hurt during the altercation, but the deputy was transported to a local hospital and treated for a minor injury. The officer will be placed on paid administrative leave per Sheriff policy.

Reyes was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio, for assault upon a police officer, and the Sheriff’s Department says more charges are anticipated.