DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGODOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO — A sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a 36-year-old man who escaped from a law enforcement vehicle Friday night just outside the downtown San Diego Central Jail, police said.
Authorities did not release the man’s name nor disclose if he was handcuffed at the time he was shot.
California State Park rangers were taking him to the jail after arresting him on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a park ranger employee, according to San Diego police homicide Capt. Richard Freedman.
He escaped around 5:50 p.m. just outside a large, gated vehicle entrance to the jail on Front and B streets, according to Freedman. Two uniformed deputies on their way into work at the jail saw the escape and chased the man.
“During that encounter, at least one shot was fired,” Freedman said, adding that because the deputies were uniformed and heading to work, they were considered on duty at the time.
Medics took the man to a hospital, where he died, Freedman said.
No deputies, rangers or officers were injured, according to a Sheriff’s Department dispatcher.
Outside the jail Friday night, the two California State Park law enforcement vehicles remained just outside the vehicle entrance. Freedman said the detained man had been in a car, which appeared to be an older model Crown Victoria or similar vehicle.
Freedman said a second ranger was following behind in a pickup. As the man made his escape, he apparently slammed close that truck’s door while the ranger tried to get out and chase him.
Freedman would not disclose at which park the rangers had arrested the man or the exact nature of the assault he was alleged to have committed.
San Diego police had several blocks around the jail taped off late Friday night, including Front Street between A and C streets, and B Street at First Street.
The investigation and road closures were expected to last into Saturday morning, Freedman said. None of the deputies or rangers involved had been identified Saturday morning, police said.
The man who died had been identified but his name was not being released pending notification of his family, police said.
San Diego Police homicide detectives would be conducting the investigation, with the Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office monitoring it, according to standard protocol, police said Saturday.
Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call homicide detectives at (619) 531-2293 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at (888) 580-8477.
