Ventura County Sergeant recovering after SUV rams patrol vehicle

VENTURA, Calif. - A Ventura County Sheriff's Sergeant is recovering after a vehicle rammed his patrol car causing it to overturn and leaving the sergeant trapped inside.

The incident happened Tuesday just after 2 a.m. The sergeant was driving on the Santa Clara bridge near the 118 in Ventura when a white SUV came up from behind and rammed his vehicle, the sheriff's office said.

"As the sergeant accelerated his patrol vehicle the suspect accelerated as well and then rammed into the back of the sergeant's vehicle a second time,” said Capt. Eric Buschow with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. “That action spun the patrol car around and caused it to flip onto its side."

The sergeant, who has been with the department for 37 years, was trapped in his vehicle. He was still able to give deputies a clear description of the driver.

"Other deputies in the Fillmore area were able to spot the suspect vehicle in the Santa Paula area, and they tried to stop the vehicle and he didn't stop and led them on a high-speed pursuit,” said Buschow.

Investigators say the driver later got out of the car and led deputies on a foot pursuit in Santa Paula. The suspect was eventually detained and taken into custody with bail set at $1,005,000.

The sergeant who was hit is expected to be OK.

"He was pulled out of the vehicle by rescue personnel from the fire department and taken to a local hospital. He suffered just minor injuries,” said Buschow.

Buschow says the driver has a long criminal history and has been arrested 20 times in the last ten years.

He now awaits charges for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, felony DUI and felony hit and run.