Helicopter Heroism Award Nominations
| Riverside County Sheriff's Department Suspect with an AR15 with 100 Round Ammo Drum Firing at the Helicopter | |
| Riverside Couty - May 12th 2008 | |
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| SOBOBA RESERVATION INCIDENT STAR-94 On 051208 at 1825 hours, Deputy Andy Rasmussen (TFO) and Deputy Mark “Tony” Bowen (Pilot) responded to the Soboba Reservation reference a 245PC. The male suspect (Joseph Arres 122671) had fired several shots at, and hit, the guard shack to the reservation using an AR-15. The vehicle then drove away, onto the reservation. Upon arrival, the aircrew coordinated a search of various areas, soon finding the vehicle at a park about a half mile from the guard shack. The suspects were located (male and female) were sitting at a park bench near their vehicle. Shortly after we started our orbits overhead, the male suspect leveled off his AR-15 and fired several (5-6) shots at the helicopter. None of the shots hit the aircraft. During one of the orbits, the aircrew observed the suspect standing with the rifle held with both hands across his waistline, looking at the aircrew as if he was taunting. After reporting the fired shots, the command post at the casino asked that we keep eyes on the suspects while they continued to coordinate and wait for SWAT. After STAR 94 reported the shots to dispatch, the suspects got into the vehicle and drove from the park toward the guard shack where several units were awaiting and blocking the exit. It appeared as though the suspects were trying to exit the reservation. The suspect stopped about 150 yards from the guard shack, got out of the vehicle and engaged the ground units. The ground units returned fire. One of the units was hit by gunfire from the suspect. The suspect got back into his vehicle and drove south on Soboba and then turned east onto Castille Canyon. About 500 yards onto Castille Canyon, the suspect stopped the vehicle, got out, stood inside the driver side doorway and fired several (about 10-12) shots. He then got back into the vehicle and continued east on Castille Canyon. STAR 94 asked dispatch to start another aircrew from a surrounding agency in the event the incident took a longer period of time and fuel was needed. Dispatch advised that SBSO’s “40 King” was en route. At one time, the suspect drove toward a recreational center, consisting of baseball diamonds and a football stadium. The stadium had several juveniles and a few adults that looked to practicing football. Seeing the danger that might occur if the suspect reached the field, Rasmussen got on the PA and advised the subjects to go inside and take cover, which they did. The suspects reached the entrance to the center and then made a u-turn. They drove back the opposite direction and turned onto a dirt road, toward some orange groves. The suspect drove to two separate locations within the groves, appearing to set up the vehicle as if he was going to ambush any deputies who tried to approach. The suspect set himself up by positioning the vehicle so the driver side window was open and so he could fire toward the position of approaching deputies. Both suspects remained inside the vehicle. The driver smoked and tossed out a cigarette and the female passenger even got out at one time and walked to the back of the vehicle, where she urinated on the ground. She then got back into the vehicle. The suspects turned the vehicle around and drove through the orange groves. As the aircrew continued to follow the vehicle, we overheard that SWAT was en route with two “Bearcat” armored vehicles. The aircrew continued to relay the direction of travel as the suspects drove onto a dirt road that led into the hills. About a mile onto this road, the suspect stopped yet again and fired another volley of shots at the helicopter. With a big lead on the Bearcats now, one of SWAT commanders directed that they wanted the vehicle taken out with use of a helicopter. Although San Bernardino had arrived in the area to assist with a shooting platform and in the event STAR 94 with 40 King, they advised they did not have NVGs. Due to the fact it was almost nightfall, the aircrew of STAR 94 decided to leave the vehicle on the dirt road and quickly pick up the SWAT member. After picking up the SWAT member, the aircrew returned to find the vehicle driving in the same area. Using a low approach from behind and to the right of the vehicle, the SWAT member fired a strafing volley from his M4 rifle in an attempt to disable the vehicle. A couple passes were made in the same manner, and after striking the vehicle several times, the suspect drove into an outcropping of trees and parked out of view from the aircrew. The SWAT member continued to lay a suppressing fire as I directed the Bearcats to the location. Soon after the Bearcats arrived, the suspects were located near a tree about 30 yards from the vehicle. Although the suspects began shooting at the SWAT members, they were swiftly neutralized by the SWAT team. Both suspects succumbed to their injuries. The male suspect was found to have an AR-15 with a 100 round drum and the female had an SKS with a 30 round banana clip. Had the airship not used the shooting platform, the suspects were thought to have continued off the reservation which would have created grave danger for the public. | |
