PARKER — A Parker man is in custody in California after allegedly firing shots at a La Paz County sheriff's deputy and a Parker police officer late Thursday night. Julio Cesar Salcedo Ramirez, 20, of Parker, was arrested after fleeing to California. He is being held at Morongo Basin Jail and his bail is set at $100,000. He faces multiple felony charges in Arizona and California.
The incident began on Aug. 20 at approximately 11:50 p.m. La Paz Central Dispatch received multiple reports of shots being fired near Parker's Food City store on Cofa Street between 12th Street and Arizona Avenue.
The suspect, later identified as Salcedo-Ramirez, fled the scene before officers arrived, the sheriff's office said in a press release. A La Paz County Sheriff's deputy responding to the scene passed the suspect's vehicle on I-95 south of Parker, where the suspect allegedly fired several shots at the deputy. The suspect turned around and headed back toward the town of Parker. The suspect allegedly fired several shots at officers again as he passed responding Parker police units. Parker Police Department and La Paz County Sheriff's Office officers pursued the suspect approximately 80 miles into California.
The pursuit on California Highway 62 reached speeds of more than 160 mph, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
The suspect's vehicle ran out of gas near milepost 97. Sacredo-Ramirez allegedly pointed a gun at an Arizona state trooper and fled on foot. He surrendered at 12:05 a.m. without further incident.
Salcedo-Ramirez was charged with assault and battery on a peace officer. He is pending extradition to Arizona.
