Man Shot by CHP Officer After Chase, Fight

A man was shot in the wrist, thigh and leg by a California Highway Patrol officer during a confrontation after a chase on California 150 between Santa Paula and Ojai on Thursday night, authorities said. It was the second shooting by a law-enforcement officer in Ventura County this week.

Dennis Dale Agdeppa, 38, of Ventura was shot three times by an unidentified officer after he grabbed a second officer’s gun and threatened to kill them both, said Sgt. Robert MacFarland of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

Agdeppa was in fair condition Thursday night at Ojai Valley Community Hospital. Neither of the two officers was injured.

The chase began at 6:10 p.m. and ended when the man abruptly turned into Happy Valley School Road, a private road near the Summit in upper Ojai, CHP spokesman Jim Utter said.

After driving his car into a field, the man first tried to run away, MacFarland said. When one officer tackled him, he grabbed that officer’s gun and they struggled. When the other officer reached them, the suspect threatened to kill both of the CHP officers, MacFarland said.

The second officer then shot Agdeppa three times, MacFarland said.

The officers had begun the pursuit after Agdeppa failed to yield the right of way as they responded to the report of an accident, MacFarland said. There were no outstanding warrants on him, he said.

Ojai Ambulance owner Steven Frank, who responded to the shooting, said, “We . . . treated him on the scene for multiple gunshot wounds to the legs. He was in serious condition, but we were able to stabilize him.”

Frank said the man’s injuries apparently were not life-threatening.

The CHP would not allow reporters on the scene, barring all but residents of the area from using Happy Valley School Road.

The incident was the second time in three days that a Ventura County law enforcement officer shot a suspect. On Tuesday, Ventura Police Cpl. Kenneth Corney shot and killed Ventura resident Owen (Butch) Spring after Spring walked out of his house with a handgun.

Times correspondent Thia Bell contributed to this story.