By Lori Fowler
San Bernardino County Sun
Emergency alert signs on local freeways Monday informed drivers about a fugitive wanted by Northern California officials who could be traveling through the state.
California Highway Patrol officials initiated a Blue Alert about 9 a.m., warning drivers to be on the look out for a dark blue Yukon with its rear-window blown out. Witnesses were asked to call 9-1-1.
The alert was originally displayed in the Central and Inland divisions, but expanded to Southern and border divisions throughout the day, said Jaime Coffee, a CHP public information officer.
Much like an Amber Alert, Blue Alerts use the Emergency Alert System to inform the public about specific vehicle traveling across the state.
The only difference between the two is that a Blue Alert “doesn’t interrupt your broadcast,” Coffee said.
On Sunday a CHP officer was conducting speed enforcement on State Route 178, east of Bakersfield, when what is thought to be a Yukon — or a Yukon-type SUV — approached the location and someone opened fire from the rear of the truck, Coffee said.
The officer ducked into the passenger compartment of a patrol car to avoid the gunfire, then returned fire. The officer was shot, but is expected to recover.
The shooter, who was seated in the rear of the truck, was possibly shot in the head, officials said.
The Yukon sped off and the officer was not able to follow it because the car got a flat tire during the incident.
Kern County CHP is investigating.
The shooter is described as a Hispanic man in his 20’s, wearing a light-colored tank top. The weapon used was possibly a MAC-10 or other 9mm automatic firearm.
The driver is described as a Hispanic man in his 20’s, wearing a white cowboy hat and a button-up shirt.
The suspect vehicle is a blue 2000’s Chevrolet or GMC Yukon-type SUV with custom rims and low-profile tires, unknown license plate. The rear cargo window was broken out during the shooting.
This is the second time a Blue Alert has been used in California, Coffee said.
“The first one was issued a few months ago, after a San Diego area CHP officer was shot at by a suspect in a vehicle,” she said.
A Blue Alert is initiated if:
A law enforcement officer has been killed, suffered serious bodily injury, or assaultedwith a deadly weapon, and the suspect has fled the scene of the offense.
The investigating agency has determined that the suspect poses an imminent threat to thepublic or other law enforcement personnel.
A detailed description of the suspect’s vehicle or license plate is available for broadcast.
Public dissemination of available information may help avert further harm or accelerate apprehension of the suspect.
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