BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — UPDATE (June 1, 2023 - 3:13 pm): According to a new press release from the Bakersfield Police Department, the identity of the driver who allegedly purposely struck an occupied police car is 23-year-old Ramiro Molina of Bakersfield.
According to Bakersfield Police, after being discharged from a local hospital, Molina was booked into the Kern County Jail on charges of assault on an officer with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance for sales, transportation of a controlled substance, and conspiracy.
BPD also identifies the passenger in that car as 28-year-old Francisco Rodriguez, also of Bakersfield. Rodriguez was also arrested in connection to the drug dealing investigation. According to BPD, he was arrested and booked into the Kern County Jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance for sales, transportation of a controlled substance, and conspiracy.
According to the police press release, officers seized approximately 3.5 pounds of what they suspect is methamphetamine from Molina's car.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with any information about this event is encouraged to call the Bakersfield Police Department at 327-7111.
UPDATE (May 30, 2023 - 5:33 pm): The Bakersfield Police Department has sent a press release with more details.
According to BPD, officers were initiating contact with two adult males sitting in a car in the parking lot of the AM/PM at 900 Monterey Street in East Bakersfield around 2:28 pm on May 31. As they did this, they say that car's driver ran his car into the driver's side of a marked and occupied patrol car. BPD says that was when an officer fired a shot that connected with the driver.
According to the press release, the driver was taken to a hospital and is listed in stable condition. BPD says they took the passenger into custody. The officer in the patrol car that got hit was not injured.
BPD says there is body camera footage of the event and that they will be making that footage available to the public in the future. They say they're still processing the scene and interviewing witnesses, and will be releasing more information, including the identities of the people involved. The officer who fired their gun has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Anyone who has additional information pertinent to this investigation is encouraged to call the Bakersfield Police Department at 327-7111.
UPDATE: According to Sgt. Robert Pair with the Bakersfield Police Department said that the incident began at around 2:30 p.m. when multiple officers approached two suspects as part of a narcotics trafficking investigation.
At that point, the suspects attempted to flee the scene in their vehicle and struck an officer's patrol car. The officer fired at the suspects, wounding one. The suspect was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The officer was not injured and was placed on paid administrative leave as per department policy.
This is a developing story. More information as it becomes available.
The Bakersfield Police Department is investigating a possible officer-involved shooting at Monterey St and Beale Ave.
Traffic in the area will be affected and drivers are advised to find alternate routes.
We are investigating an officer involved shooting at Monterey St and Beale Ave. Traffic will be impacted and please avoid the area. Additional information will be made available as the investigation continues. #Bakersfieldnews
— Bakersfield Police (@bakersfieldpd) May 31, 2023
This is a developing story. More information as it becomes available.
