The Kern County Sheriff’s Office will conduct an internal use-of-force investigation after a suspect was killed when an armored vehicle intentionally ran him over during a standoff in Porterville on Thursday.
The incident followed the fatal shooting of Tulare County Sheriff’s Deputy-Detective Randy Hoppert, 35, as deputies attempted to serve an eviction notice.
Driving the news: According to officials, roughly half of Kern County’s SWAT team responded, deploying the department’s BearCat armored vehicle and ultimately killing the suspect after several hours.
- “As they were approaching the back of the residence, the suspect was lying in wait. We think probably waiting for ground troops to ambush them,” Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood told reporters Friday. “As deputies went towards the house, the suspect fired a high-powered rifle.”
- “The BearCat took four rounds to the driver’s side of the windshield and the deputies driving the Rook ran over the suspect and the suspect ultimately was killed,” Youngblood said. He added that at least one round “actually penetrated the cockpit of the BearCat.”
The back story: The suspect, identified as David Morales, 59, barricaded himself inside a home while Tulare County deputies were serving the eviction order.
- Around 10:20 a.m., Morales opened fire, hitting Hoppert, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said Hoppert was a six-year veteran of the department, and his wife is four months pregnant.
Youngblood opens investigation: Sheriff Youngblood confirmed the use of the BearCat will be reviewed, as required after any law enforcement use of deadly force. The deputies involved have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
- Youngblood emphasized that the inquiry is in the early stages and the deputies had not yet been interviewed. He said the department does possess body camera footage, but it will not be released until the investigation is complete.
- When asked about the department’s policy on using vehicles for deadly force, Youngblood said, “When use of force, deadly force, is used to stop a threat to save your life, all bets are off. In this particular case, they were in fear of their lives. They were being fired on with a high-powered rifle — those deputies’ lives were on the line.”
Armored vehicles in Kern’s arsenal: Kern County currently operates two BearCat vehicles, each costing between $450,000 and $500,000, according to Youngblood. Another is on order. The BearCat involved in Thursday’s incident is expected to be repairable.
- Deputies also utilized a piece of equipment called the Rook — an armored track loader valued at $400,000 to $450,000 — to remove obstacles and improve officer safety. “It was used to remove a car that was in the garage to give the officers better visibility and better safety,” Youngblood said.
- Throughout the standoff, officers attempted to convince Morales to surrender, enlisting family members to help reason with him.
- After negotiations failed, the Rook was used to tear the front off the garage.
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