Man arrested on suspicion of trying to kill Carlsbad police officer
A 27-year-old San Diego man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of trying to kill a Carlsbad police officer by firing at the officer’s vehicle to avoid being pulled over in his truck and questioned about a burglary.
Cameron Avery Valentine was booked into jail on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, vehicle burglary and evading a police officer. He was arrested at a gas station in San Diego.
Valentine is suspected of firing at an officer early Wednesday morning as the officer was attempting to have him pull over his Ford Ranger pickup truck. The vehicle was linked to a burglary reported just minutes earlier, Carlsbad police said.
A man in the pickup fired seven to eight shots at the police vehicle and then sped eastward toward San Marcos. The police vehicle, struck three times, caught fire and was disabled.
Valentine is thought to have been the only person in the truck, Carlsbad police said.
“We are very grateful our officer was not injured during this incident,” said Carlsbad Capt. Neil Gallucci.
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