2 Men Arrested For Alleged Attempt To Kill Police Officers In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY (CBSLA.com) — Two men remained in custody Thursday on suspicion of firing multiple rounds at officers during separate police pursuits.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Andre Sanchez and David Moreno were arrested Tuesday for attempted murder of a police officer.

Around 10:30 p.m. Monday, Hemet Sheriff's Station deputies were sent to the Ramona Expressway at Lincoln Road for report of an assault with a deadly weapon.

A victim reported they had been shot at by occupants who traveled in a red Dodge truck on the expressway, officials explained.

Upon their arrival, deputies were unable to locate the truck. The victim was not injured during the incident.

Shortly before midnight, a San Jacinto Police Department officer initiated a vehicle pursuit after observing the same truck drive towards the Soboba Indian Reservation.

During the pursuit, Sanchez and Moreno fired at the officer's patrol car through the rear window of the truck.

Police said neither the officer nor the patrol car were struck by gunfire, however, the suspects were able to escape arrest when they drove into a sandy area.

Sanchez and Moreno abandoned the truck and ran to a home -- located in the 43000 block of Castile Canyon Road on the reservation -- where a resident drove them away in a different vehicle, authorities added.

Police chased after the resident's vehicle to the 200 block of Jordan Lane. The vehicle was then abandoned, and the suspects fled to a nearby residential neighborhood.

The Riverside County Sheriff's SWAT Team performed a search of the area, which subsequently located Sanchez and Moreno hiding. They were detained without incident a short time later.

Officials explained one of the suspects was a person of interest in a previous homicide attempt on a peace officer that occurred during a police pursuit around 9:15 p.m. Saturday in San Jacinto.

They did not clarify which suspect, Sanchez or Moreno, was involved in Saturday's pursuit.

During the incident, the suspect fired several rounds from a high-powered assault rifle and struck the patrol car, which caused it to become immobilized, police said.

The suspect drove away and collided into a house located two blocks away on Savory Road. The officer did not receive any direct injuries, but was transported for precautionary reasons.

A similar weapon was recovered in the backyard of a nearby home.

Sanchez and Moreno are being held at the Riverside County Sheriff Jail.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Hemet Sheriff's Station at (951) 791-3400.