CalFire assistance Shasta County SWAT

Friday, June 19, 2009

CalFire assistance Shasta County SWAT

Sergeant, deputy injured in Lassen gun battle

A sergeant from Lassen County Sheriff's Office was sent to the hospital with a gunshot wound and a deputy was also injured after a marijuana investigation turned into a gun battle that left one suspect dead and six others arrested in northern Lassen County.

The sergeant was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Redding. According to Lassen County Sheriff Steve Warren, the sergeant's injuries are serious, but are not life threatening. The deputy was not transported to the hospital and Warren said he is doing well.

The identity of the suspect who was killed was not available pending notification of next of kin.

At approximately 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, rangers from the Bureau of Land Management and the Lassen County Narcotics Taskforce, which includes personnel from the Lassen County Sheriff's Office and the Susanville Police Department, were scouting for illegal cultivation of marijuana in the Dixie Valley area and found a garden with several thousand plants.

Shortly after finding the garden, Warren said the taskforce came across a camp, where three people were staying. Two people were taken into custody right away, but the other suspect started shooting.

He said it's typical for people to guard the marijuana, but usually the taskforce will find the camp, back away and return with a team. Because the camp was in pretty heavy cover, Warren said, the taskforce instantly ended up on top of it.

The remaining four suspects fled the area and evaded the California Highway Patrol. CHP officers notified other agencies responding to the scene, and the suspects were eventually apprehended by CHP and the Shasta County Sheriff's Office.

At this time, Warren said he has no reason to believe the four were involved in the shooting. He also said he has no reason to believe there are other suspects. Wednesday, June 17, Warren said teams would be processing the scene throughout the day.

The sheriff's office also received assistance from multiple agencies including the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, the California Highway Patrol, Modoc County Sheriff's Office, Plumas County Sheriff's Office and CalFire.

Warren said Shasta County rolled in like it was the invasion of a small country. CalFire transported the SWAT team to the scene.

Warren credited the agency with saving the sergeant's life. When the sergeant was shot, Warren said taskforce members administered first aid and CalFire personnel loaded him into a helicopter and transported him to a landing zone where a medical helicopter was waiting.

In accordance with sheriff's office policy, the Department of Justice will investigate the incident.
Source: Plumas News.com - Link

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Friday, June 19, 2009