By Bill Lindelof
blindelof@sacbee.com
Two Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were sent to the hospital when their patrol car was rammed this morning by the driver of a stolen vehicle.
One of the deputies fired at the stolen vehicle but it does not appear the suspect was hit. He eluded arrest after an extensive search.
The deputies were sent to the hospital mostly as a precautionary measure after the air bags deployed when their car was rammed.
Sheriff's department spokesman Tim Curran said the incident began about 2:15 a.m. Two deputies in a squad car were checking license plates of cars during the normal course of their duties when a vehicle in North Highlands came back as stolen.
There was a brief pursuit of the car and then the suspect made an abrupt U-turn. The suspect drove directly at the patrol car, striking it head-on at Brock Drive and Thomas Drive, near the intersection of Watt Avenue and Elkhorn Boulevard.
The deputy driving the squad car got out of his police unit and fired a shot or two at the suspect's vehicle. The squad car was disabled, but the suspect's vehicle drove off.
The stolen vehicle was found abandoned a short distance away at Medora Drive and Superior Drive. Police from several agencies then surrounded the area and the California Highway Patrol helicopter assisted in the search for the suspect.
At one point a man was found within the search area that deputies initially suspected might be involved. The deputies, who were examined for injury at the hospital and brought back to the scene, could not identify the man as the suspect who rammed their squad car.
The man was not charged for anything to do with the stolen vehicle, but was booked on a charge of being drunk in public.
Eventually, the search was ended. The deputies were described as a 36-year-old, 12-year veteran and a 37-year-old, eight-year veteran.
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.
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