Police accuse man of almost running over Burbank officer, fleeing to Whittier
Authorities say a Santa Fe Springs man almost ran over a police officer in Burbank on Sunday evening before fleeing to Whittier and barricading himself inside an apartment.
Michael Shawn Wedge, 35, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon against a police officer and felony evading, according to a statement by Sgt. Derek Green, a spokesman with the Burbank Police Department. He added that Wedge had “numerous outstanding warrants” at the time of his arrest.
Wedge’s reported encounter with police began around 10:15 p.m. in the 2900 block of North San Fernando Boulevard when an officer tried to stop a Nissan Frontier pickup truck near the Ramada by Wyndham Hotel for a vehicle code violation, according to authorities.
Green said the driver of the truck, later identified as Wedge, almost struck the officer with his vehicle as he fled from the area.
The truck then went onto the southbound 5 Freeway before going over to the eastbound 60 Freeway, according to Green. At times, the vehicle traveled about 90 mph.
The truck eventually stopped in Whittier, where Green said Wedge abandoned the vehicle and continued to flee by foot, leaving behind a female passenger, who was detained by officers. A perimeter was soon set up in the area by Burbank police, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Green said a woman approached officers after the perimeter was established to report that Wedge had barged into her apartment and barricaded himself inside.
Members of Burbank’s SWAT team and crisis negotiators were called to the apartment in an attempt to get Wedge to surrender, but he refused to leave, according to Green.
Citing the “dangerous and potentially volatile situation,” Green said officers decided to enter the apartment after six hours and took Wedge into custody.
He is currently being held on $390,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
