Man Sought in Shooting of Deputy Turns Himself In
A 23-year-old man accused of shooting a sheriff’s deputy in the head earlier this month during a traffic stop surrendered at the Whittier courthouse Friday in the company of his lawyer.
Omar Ramirez Jimenez proclaimed his innocence to a television reporter outside the courthouse.
“I just want to clear this up because I found out that they’re looking for me,” Jimenez said.
He pleaded not guilty later to two counts each of attempted murder and assault on a peace officer with a semiautomatic firearm. He was named in a $2.03-million arrest warrant Thursday.
Jimenez is accused of shooting sheriff’s Deputy Michael Schaap about 3:30 a.m. Sept. 5 at Mulberry Drive and Gunn Avenue in an unincorporated county area near Whittier.
Schaap, 35, was shot before he or his partner had a chance to get out of their patrol car. The deputy remains in the hospital.
“He’s improving,” said sheriff’s Sgt. Norine Plett. “He’s going to be in rehabilitation four to six weeks.”
Police say Jimenez’s van, which was found shortly after the crime, was used in the shooting.
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