VICTORVILLE, Calif. -- Authorities arrested a man early Monday morning who they say opened fire on a San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop.
According to a sheriff's news release, four shots were fired in a the man's "brazen attempt" to attack the deputy, but the deputy escaped unscathed.
Shawn Munoz, 31, was in custody Monday in the holding cell at the Victorville Sheriff's Station in lieu of $1 million bail on suspicion of the attempted murder of a peace officer, booking records show.
The incident was reported at approximately 9:45 p.m. Sunday in the area of Hesperia Road and Green Tree Boulevard.
The deputy was returning to a vehicle he had pulled over, when a new, silver Chrysler 300 drove toward him on Hesperia and slowed down, according to the news release.
After the Chrysler's driver-side window lowered halfway, "the deputy saw muzzle flashes and heard four gunshots coming from the (vehicle)," the news release stated.
The deputy then returned fire as the Chrysler fled north on Hesperia Road and escaped, authorities say.
Detectives collected evidence and spoke with witnesses at the scene before locating a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle's description in the 13800 block of Apple Creek, only blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Deputies obtained a search warrant for the home and recovered items they believe to be related to the shooting, including a .45 caliber handgun, .45 caliber ammunition, a mini-14 rifle with two 30-round magazines and gang paraphernalia.
Munoz was arrested at 2:43 a.m. Monday, booking records show.
Officials say the incident "proves the violent climate in which law enforcement officers now work."
Munoz is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Victorville Superior Court, according to booking records.
Anyone with information about the investigation is urged to contact the Victorville Sheriff's Station at 760-241-2911 or Sheriff's Dispatch at 760-956-5001. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the WeTip Hotline at 800-78-CRIME or leave information on the WeTip website at www.wetip.com.
Copyright 2014 - Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
