Barstow Man Arrested Following Chase in Stolen Vehicle and Deputy-Involved Shooting

BARSTOW – A Barstow man was arrested for theft of a truck and for pointing a handgun at a deputy sheriff’s officials said. Late Friday morning at around 11:15 a.m. deputies from the Barstow station received the report of the theft of a Chevy Silverado pick-up truck near Old State Highway and Irwin road in Barstow. The reporting party told dispatchers that a Hispanic man stole the truck and advised them of the direction he was traveling as they followed the vehicle.

The suspect was quickly located by the Sheriff’s helicopter (40 King) who directed ground units to his location. The suspect was driving the vehicle on a dirt road in Ludlow. Deputies deployed a spike strip and as the suspect neared it, he slowed down and pointed the gun at a deputy standing near the spike strip. Fearing for his safety, the deputy fired his Ruger Mini-14 service weapon.

The suspect was not hit, but the bullet struck the vehicle and the vehicle subsequently ran over the spike strip. As the tires deflated, the suspect continued to flee. The suspect, later identified as Juan Anthony Lopez, 32, stopped at a Dairy Queen, located at 25635 Crucero Road in Ludlow. Lopez was arrested without further incident and was booked into the High Desert Detention Center for assault with a deadly weapon, vehicle theft, and evading a peace officer. During a search of the vehicle deputies located a loaded handgun on the front seat. Neither Lopez or the deputy were injured as a result of the incident.

Sheriff’s Homicide Investigators are conducting the investigation. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact Detective Art Alvarado at (909) 387-3589. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.

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