The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is searching for a man who escaped arrest for trying to run over a deputy with his pickup truck in Wildomar.
KTLA in Los Angeles reports that authorities are looking for 35-year-old Joe Sanchez of Lake Elsinore after he allegedly attempted to use his pickup truck to run over a deputy.
A spokesperson for the RCSD said in a statement that the incident happened 33700 block of Orange Street.
Sanchez’s attempt to run over the officer prompted deputies to open fire on Sanchez as he fled the scene. Law enforcement officers are uncertain whether Sanchez was hit or not. Fortunately, the deputy that Sanchez attacked was uninjured in the incident.
Though the officers weren’t able to capture Sanchez, they were able to identify his vehicle. Officials described the vehicle Sanchez was driving as a white Ford single cab dually pickup truck. Officials believe that the vehicle was made in the late 1990s or early 2000s.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Central Homicide Unit. In the past, Sanchez had said that law enforcement officers would shoot him before ever going back to prison.
Authorities have not stated what Sanchez had been incarcerated for in the past.
The RCSD is advising the public that if they spot Sanchez not to approach him, but instead call Investigator Dickey with Central Homicide at (951) 955-0896. Or they may call the Riverside Sheriff’s Dispatch number at (951)776-1099 and choose “Option 5.”
Call or text (626) 709-2523 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
