A man who allegedly rammed a sheriff’s patrol vehicle intentionally in Bell Gardens Thursday was shot and wounded by a deputy, authorities said.
The shooting occurred about 4:30 a.m. near Florence and Eastern avenues, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The wounded man was taken to a hospital in unknown condition, according to the sheriff’s department, which reported that no deputies were injured.
According to the sheriff’s department, a deputy from the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station was in the area “when he observed a white utility vehicle enter the intersection while speeding and doing `donuts.’ ”
“As the deputy entered the intersection in an attempt to warn other drivers on the road of the potential danger and initiate a traffic stop, the suspect vehicle is believed to have intentionally collided into the deputy’s patrol vehicle,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement.
“After colliding into the patrol vehicle, the suspect vehicle then intentionally rammed the patrol vehicle one additional time as the deputy remained seated in the driver’s seat,” the statement said. “During this time, a deputy-involved shooting occurred and the suspect was ultimately detained and taken into custody.”
The name of the suspect was not immediately released.
Authorities closed the intersection of Florence and Eastern avenues while an investigation was conducted. Also, the California Highway Patrol closed the offramps leading to eastbound Florence Avenue from the northbound and southbound Long Beach (710) Freeway, but the freeway itself remained open.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS. Tipsters may also use the website lacrimestoppers.org .
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