CHP Officer Shoots Man After Chase

A suspected drunk driver was shot in the shoulder by a California Highway Patrol officer after the motorist led authorities on a high-speed chase and tried to run down an officer who approached his car on foot, authorities said Sunday.

Thorveld Torgersen, 34, of Los Angeles, was arrested Saturday after the pursuit, which reached speeds of 80 m.p.h., CHP Sgt. Jack Skaggs said. Torgersen was treated at a Bakersfield hospital before being booked by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies.

The chase began about noon Saturday when CHP Officer Rick Roberts noticed Torgersen driving erratically on the northbound Golden State Freeway just south of Lancaster Road, Skaggs said. Torgersen led Roberts east on Lancaster Road before cutting across the center divider and turning back onto the northbound Golden State. Roberts was then joined by CHP Officer Ryan Froehlich, and the two followed Torgersen off the freeway in Gorman and eventually onto Gorman Post Road--a dead-end street, Skaggs said.

Torgersen stopped his car at the end of the road, and the two officers approached on foot with weapons drawn, Skaggs said. Torgersen then made a U-turn and accelerated toward Froehlich, who fired three rounds, striking Torgersen once in the left shoulder. A man riding with Torgersen was not harmed.

Torgersen sped back onto the northbound freeway--sideswiping another car but injuring no one--then exited at Frazier Mountain Park Road with officers in pursuit and stopped voluntarily, Skaggs said. Torgersen and his passenger, Hubert Erbacher, 55, of Gorman, were arrested without further incident.

Skaggs said Torgersen’s blood-alcohol content was recorded at .36. Under state law, a motorist is legally considered intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level of .08.

Torgersen was being held Sunday on suspicion of attempted murder, evading arrest, assault with a deadly weapon, drunk driving and hit-and-run.

It was not known what, if any, charges would be filed against Erbacher.