EL CAJON, Calif. — A vehicle-theft suspect and a police officer were recovering Thursday from gunshot wounds suffered when two sheriff's deputies opened fire on the alleged thief during a high-risk traffic stop in El Cajon, authorities said.
The incident involving sheriff's deputies happened near Ballard and Decker streets around 10:20 p.m. Wednesday, according to authorities.
Undercover detectives with the San Diego Regional Auto Theft Task Force requested assistance from uniformed sheriff's personnel to conduct a stop on a van pulling a stolen trailer, according to the El Cajon Police Department.
A pair of deputies who work out of the sheriff's Lakeside Substation responded, locating the van in the neighboring city and stopping the driver in the 1100 block of Decker Street, ECPD Lt. Randy Soulard said.
After pulling over, the suspect, later identified as 31 year-old Erik Talavera, allegedly got out of the vehicle with a knife in his hand. The deputies gave verbal commands to Talavera, who failed to comply with those commands. During the confrontation, both deputies fired their weapons, hitting Talavera, authorities said. The shooting also left a National City police detective assigned to the task force with a gunshot wound described as minor.
Talavera was then transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for gunshot wounds. Talavera is currently in stable condition and is under guard at the hospital for charges stemming from the incident, the lieutenant said.
El Cajon Police Department was handling the investigation, Soulard said.