California cop fires on semi to prevent crash

A California police officer fired his weapon into a semi’s windshield in an attempt to change the truck driver’s direction to prevent a crash with an automobile.

According to a report in the Press Enterprise, a Fontana, CA, police officer didn’t hit anyone when he fired at the big rig driven by Tyrone Hatchett.

Authorities had attempted to arrest Hatchett at a Fontana truck stop when he drove away, leading police on a 30-mi., 55-min. chase from Fontana to Rialto on July 28.

During the pursuit officers tried to use a spike strip to disable the truck when Hatchett veered the rig toward a family sitting in their vehicle, which had stopped for the chase, police said.

A Fontana police officer — fearing for the family’s safety — fired at the truck’s windshield in an attempt to change the driver’s direction. The driver was not hit by the bullet and changed course missing the family. Hatchett drove on for another 20 min., police said.

Finally police were able to stop the rig in Rialto using spike strips.

Hatchett was wanted on a warrant for violating probation on a federal conviction for smuggling immigrants. In a news release, the U.S. Marshals Service said that Hatchett’s criminal history also includes firearm violations, rape and multiple assaults.

Discuss this Article 5

DavidMac
on Aug 6, 2012

Smuggling "immigrants"? One does not have to "smuggle immigrants" when they come here LEGALLY. Shame on your political correctness, Debbie.

renegade
on Aug 10, 2012

DavidMac He was already on probation for smuggling immigrants, do you think that maybe, there is a chance that they came into the country ILLEGALLY thus they were smuggled in.

DavidMac
on Sep 19, 2012

Again, I ask: How does someone smuggle "immigrants"? If they are true immigrants, they came here LEGALLY. If they were smuggled into the US, they are "illegal aliens", not immigrants.

oldslowchevy
on Aug 13, 2012

how in the world do people like this get jobs driving trucks? i am a new driver(cdl that is) with 2 old and small misdormeanors one is 7 years old the other is 12 years old and no one will touch me. wtf?

tigerboo
on Aug 13, 2012

oldslowchevy, I suspect you haven't looked at very small fleets (less than 10 trucks). A great many of small fleet owners are not as strict on who they hire. I used to drive for one of these type. As a matter of fact, one of our drivers was busted in Laredo for having several "illegals" in his trailer. Served 18 months in a federal pen. When he was released, the fleet owner hired him right back. Strange, but true.

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