Gunmen hit windshield of pursuing Madera, California police unit with civilian ride-along injured by flying glass
The Fresno Bee
October 23, 2016
Madera police are looking for the people who fired more than a dozen rounds at an officer as he tried to pull over their vehicle early Sunday morning.
The officer was unhurt, but a civilian who was doing a ride-along received minor cuts from glass from the patrol car’s windshield. Police found the vehicle, a Mazda SUV, a few blocks from where the officer last saw it. In a search of the area, police said they found an AR15-style pistol and other evidence.
The shooting happened about 4:30 a.m. as the officer tried to stop the Mazda on Howard Road at Schnoor Avenue. The Mazda failed to pull over and led the officer on a pursuit through neighborhoods in west Madera.
When the Mazda turned onto Lighthouse Drive from Mainberry Drive, the front passenger pointed a gun out the window and fired nine rounds at the officer’s patrol car. The officer continued pursuing and as the Mazda approached Shannon Avenue, the passenger fired four more rounds, three of them striking the patrol car. Two of the bullets hit the windshield, narrowly missing the officer and the civilian on a ride-along in the front passenger seat.
The patrol car was disabled, police said, putting an end to the pursuit.
The officer had just finished training and was on his second week as a solo officer, said the department, which praised his coolness under fire.
The investigation is continuing.
EDITOR’S NOTE: On the dash cam video, the female ride-along can be heard yelling “No, no, no … don’t follow him” as the gunmen in the fleeing SUV fire their first volley of shots at the cop car.
If the ride-along was a criminal justice student, I’ll bet there’s a good chance she will now change her major.
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