Carlsbad CA— Early this morning, June 10, at 3:36 a.m., the City of Carlsbad Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle burglary in progress in the 2300 block of La Costa Avenue. Prior to officers arriving at the scene, a witness reported to Carlsbad Police Dispatch that a suspect left the location driving a light colored pickup truck.
Responding officers located a possible suspect vehicle driving northbound on El Camino Real approaching Palomar Airport Road. As the suspect vehicle drove eastbound on Palomar Airport Road from El Camino Real, an officer attempted a vehicle stop by activating the overhead emergency lights on the patrol vehicle. Seconds after activating the emergency lights, a suspect from inside the suspect vehicle fired several shots from an unknown type of firearm at the officer. The officer’s patrol vehicle was struck several times by the bullets shot by the suspect.
The officer was not injured and chased the suspect vehicle eastbound on Palomar Airport Road into San Marcos. The suspect vehicle reached speeds in excess of 100 mph. The officer’s patrol vehicle engine became disabled by the gunshots and the officer terminated the pursuit on eastbound San Marcos Blvd. in the area of Discovery Way.
The suspect and suspect vehicle are still outstanding. The suspect vehicle is described as a light colored pickup truck, possibly a Ford Ranger. There is no suspect description at this time.
The officer did not return fire at any time during this incident.
Carlsbad Police Detectives are currently investigating the vehicle burglaries and the attempted murder of the police officer.
All lanes of eastbound Palomar Airport Road from El Camino Real to Melrose Drive are closed due to this investigation. This road closure is expected to last several hours.
Officers later determined that at least two vehicles were burglarized in the 2300 block of La Costa Ave.