San Diego officer fires at vehicle during hour-long pursuit
By: -----
San Diego, CA - A San Diego police officer fired a round at a vehicle that led officers on an hour-long pursuit in a stolen car on Wednesday afternoon, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said.
The woman behind the wheel of the silver Lexus was not injured by the bullet that struck the windshield at San Dieguito Road at Derby Farms Road, near Fairbanks Ranch Golf Course, SDSO Lt. Juan Marquez said. Instead, she continued driving until the pursuit came to an end at State Route 56 near Highland Ranch Road, where she was taken into custody. An investigation was underway at both locations around 3:30 p.m.
The pursuit began around 11 a.m. near Tecolote Road when San Diego police spotted a reported stolen vehicle and attempted to pull over the driver. The driver took off, leading officers on several freeways and eventually city streets, which is when SDPD officers paused their pursuit, Marquez said.
Other San Diego police officers placed a spike strip on Derby Farms Road in an attempt to stop the fleeing sedan.
"This was the best area. There was not much traffic, not many pedestrians," Marquez said. "This was a chokepoint, so this is why they ended up using this area to place the spike strips."
The driver swerved to avoid the device and instead headed straight for two officers on an embankment nearby, SDSO said. One of those officers fired one round toward the car, striking its windshield. The shot did not stop the driver, though, who continued into unincorporated Poway, according to the lieutenant.
The pursuit eventually ended, and the woman was arrested near Ted Williams Parkway and Highland Ranch Road, although Marquez did not clarify exactly how.
The suspect has been identified as 35-year-old Janet Debbie Hammel of San Diego. She faces two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer, possession of a stolen vehicle, grand theft, felony reckless evading, and violation of parole.
The driver was uninjured and was taken into custody on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, driving a stolen vehicle, and several vehicle code violations related to the pursuit, Marquez said.
No officers were injured.