Suspect arrested in Santa Clarita deputy assault

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (KABC) -- A 30-year-old suspect who tried to run over a deputy in Santa Clarita was taken into custody Monday night after an hours-long barricade in Newhall.

The suspect, identified as Jesse Tucker, barricaded himself inside a home in the 25000 block of Vermont Drive, according to the sheriff's department.

Residents in the immediate area were evacuated from their homes and SWAT armored vehicles were seen at the scene.

"We were told to evacuate about 30 minutes ago now, but before that, I got to witness them, you know, get their equipment out and try to infiltrate the house. Some family members were extracted very quickly," said neighbor Jesse Groth.

A flash-bang grenade was detonated and voices could be heard over a loudspeaker.

"We're not going anywhere. The longer you stay in there the odds are that we're going to deploy a SWAT team to make entry in the house to come in and get you," a deputy said over the loudspeaker.

A woman, believed to be his girlfriend, was detained by sheriff's deputies. Tucker was taken into custody shortly before 11 p.m.

The incident began at 8:46 a.m. after deputies were called regarding a stolen vehicle in the 25200 block of The Old Road in Stevenson Ranch. A victim called the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station to report that Tucker had just stolen his landscaping pickup truck, which was equipped with a tracking device.

A deputy located the vehicle in the 24200 block of Oakriver Lane in Newhall and spotted Tucker having a conversation with another person. That's when the deputy made contact with the person Tucker was talking to.

During their encounter, Tucker suddenly drove up toward the deputy and the citizen in an apparent attempt to injure or kill one or both of them, Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies said in a statement.

Fearing for his life and the citizen's life, the deputy opened fire. Tucker, however, was not hit. The bullet hit the passenger window, causing the suspect to crash into a small retainer wall. Tucker then fled from the vehicle and ran away on foot.

Several people were briefly detained, but authorities determined that they were not involved.

Two elementary schools in the area were placed on lockdown as a precaution, deputies said.

The search initially focused in the area between Dockweiler Avenue and Newhall Avenue, to the north and south, and Sierra Highway and Valle Del Oro, to the east and west.

Tucker had last been seen wearing a dark-colored shirt, black pants and a blue baseball-style hat. The suspect will be booked for assault with a deadly weapon.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information was urged to contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station at (661) 255-1121.