Merced County sheriff's deputies wounded a man who authorities said tried to run them over as they attempted to serve an arrest warrant in North Merced on Tuesday morning.
Though sheriff's officials didn't confirm how many times the suspect may have been shot, he was bleeding from his neck when he was arrested outside a house in the 3300 block of San Rafael Court about 11 a.m. The man was flown to a hospital in Modesto.
The suspect has been identified as Hector Rubalcava, 27, said deputy Tom MacKenzie of the Merced County Sheriff's Department.
The incident started about 10 a.m., when two sheriff's detectives arrived at a home with an arrest warrant for a man who was on parole for murder, said MacKenzie.
The detectives were conducting surveillance when they saw the man in a car, MacKenzie said. They approached the vehicle and identified themselves as law enforcement officers.
That's when the man started the car and tried to run them over, MacKenzie said.
Though it is not clear whether one or both of the detectives fired into the car, it was riddled with several bullet holes by the time it crashed into an apartment complex at R Street and Buena Vista Drive.
After the crash, the driver got out of the vehicle and ran away.
Tony Avila, who lives in the area, was mowing his lawn when he saw a sheriff's detective shoot at the suspect's vehicle while chasing it on foot.
"I'm cutting the grass and there goes that car with the bumper dragging, making noise and everybody's looking out their windows," he said. "And the cop's running behind the car shooting."
Rivera Junior High School is across the street from where the incident occurred. Avila said it's fortunate no students were outside at the time. The school was put on lockdown and a large section of the residential area between R and M streets was cordoned off as officers searched for the man.
Deputies were assisted by officers from the Merced Police Department and the Merced Community College Police Department.
The Sheriff's Department's Robinson helicopter circled overhead during the nearly hourlong search.
Rubalcava was arrested after a resident tipped off police that the man was inside the resident's house.
The resident, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said he heard a noise, then saw a stranger walking down his hallway.
After he got out of the house, the resident yelled for help, which wasn't far away. His neighbor is a Merced police officer, and several others were searching the area.
Several officers, a fire department truck and an ambulance were on hand as Rubalcava was arrested, given first aid for his wounds, placed on a gurney and loaded into the ambulance.
Though officials wouldn't comment on how many times the man was shot, he had at least one wound across the back of his neck and was bleeding heavily from the injury.
Rubalcava is being charged with assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and parole violations, MacKenzie said.
In accordance with department policy, any deputy involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave while the incident is under review, MacKenzie said.
Reporter Mike North can be reached at or [email protected].
Copyright 2012 - Merced Sun-Star, Calif.
