Woman Shot By Deputy Near Santa Cruz Early Friday

SANTA CRUZ, CA — A woman was shot by sheriff's deputies early Friday morning in unincorporated Santa Cruz County after she allegedly slipped out of custody and rammed a deputy with a patrol car, sheriff's officials said. Around 3:30 a.m. two deputies in separate cars were patrolling the Ocean Street Extension of the county when they came across two vehicles parked on the side of a road and found one of the vehicles had been stolen.

Sheriff's officials said deputies found a man and a woman near the vehicles and put both persons in handcuffs. While deputies were interviewing the man, the woman, who was in the back of a patrol car, allegedly slipped out of her handcuffs, reached through a partially open window and opened a car door.
Sheriff's officials said the woman got into the driver's seat of the patrol car, drove at a deputy and hit him, incapacitating him temporarily.

The woman allegedly drove back and forth at the deputies until the uninjured one fired at her and hit her in the chest and abdomen with three bullets. Sheriff's officials said other law enforcement officers arrived,
detained the woman and administered first aid, possibly saving her life. She was flown to a trauma center where she had surgery.

The injured deputy was treated and released from a hospital. Sheriff's officials said he will need more medical care. When the woman is released from the hospital, she will be taken to the county jail on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer and other offenses. Sheriff's officials said the man is cooperating with deputies. Body-worn camera footage will be made available next week, according to the sheriff's office.

By Bay City News

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