Kern County Sheriff's office released footage of a chase that turned into a standoff, shooting
By: -----
Onyx, CA - The Kern County Sheriff’s Office has released video from an officer involved shooting that occurred in Onyx in early March.
The suspect, who has been identified as 30-year-old Michael Kemmeter, fled from the scene in a U-Haul truck towing a trailer at the 16000 block of Highway 178, in Weldon after law enforcement was called on March 13. A pursuit ensued.
Body camera footage shows sheriffs saying the “vehicle is all over the roadway.”
KSCO said the suspect continued to evade officers, driving on the wrong side of the road until he collided with oncoming traffic, on Highway 178, west of Doyle Ranch Road in Onyx and ultimately driving off the road into a wooded area.
Following the crash, the suspect barricaded himself inside the U-Haul truck as several officers approached the car, giving the suspect multiple warnings to exit the vehicle and surrender.
Deputies continued to deescalate the situation by giving Kemmeter verbal commands and using phone negotiations.
An officer could be heard telling the suspect to “stop reaching” and “I don’t want to shoot you.” Kemmeter responded “You’re gonna have to. I’d rather die” and “take your shot.”
Officers could be heard yelling “he has a gun” before several gunshots rang out. As the officers told the suspect to empty his hands and stick them out the window, the suspect could be heard yelling obscenities at law enforcement.
Law enforcement told Kemmeter to put his hands up and that the situation “didn’t have to go any further.” Kemmeter responded to officers by saying “I’m not going to prison either, dog.”
The suspect ultimately exited the vehicle and surrendered.
He was arrested with the help of a K9 for corporal injury of spouse, obstructing and resisting an officer with force, a hit-and-run resulting in property damage and evading police by driving the wrong way.
KCSO convened with an Incident Review Board and found that the use of force used during the pursuit was within policy.
Neither Kemmeter nor law enforcement sustained injuries from the shooting.