By Dayna Straehley
The Press Enterprise
FONTANA, Calif. — Authorities arrested a big-rig driver after a 55-minute chase from Fontana to Rialto that included an officer firing a gunshot through the truck’s windshield Saturday, July 28.
The bullet did not hit anyone. Detectives in the Fontana Police Department are investigating the shooting by the unnamed officer, police said in a news release.
The truck driver was arrested for a probation violation.
U.S. marshals led a team of law enforcement officers in the arrest of Tyrone Hatchett, who authorities said was wanted on a warrant for violating probation after serving time on a federal conviction of smuggling immigrants. The U.S. Marshals Service said in a news release that the suspect’s criminal history also includes firearm violations, rape and multiple assaults.
Marshals and police tried to arrest Hatchett at a truck stop on Cherry Avenue in Fontana but he tried to drive away in a big-rig, federal authorities said.
Officers chased the big-rig for more than 30 miles, police said. About halfway through the pursuit, officers tried to use a spike strip to disable the truck at Riverside and Sierra avenues. The driver turned to avoid the spike strips and veered toward a family sitting in their vehicle, which had stopped for the chase, police said.
Police said an officer feared for the family’s safety and fired at the truck’s windshield in an attempt to change the driver’s direction. Although the driver was not hit by the bullet, he did change course — missed the family — and drove on for another 20 minutes, police said.
Authorities used spike strips to bring the big-rig to a stop on Riverside Avenue at Merrill Avenue in Rialto.
The marshals’ office said Hatchett was being held in the San Bernardino Detention Center and arraignment is scheduled for Monday.
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