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Organization: Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station
Date: December 17, 2008
Armed Suspects In Custody After Deputy-Involved Shooting & Containment
Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 9:29 a.m. — Saugus:
Commit Crime? Not in the Santa Clarita Valley — Three suspected burglars, one of which was armed with a loaded handgun, are behind bars tonight thanks to alert residents and quick actions of Santa Clarita Valley Detectives. The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station received a call from a concerned resident near Heather Vale Street, Saugus at 9:29 a.m., indicating there was 3 men in a blue sedan traversing the neighborhood, looking into windows and approaching houses. A second call from another concerned resident near Oak Ridge Drive and Via Princessa, Saugus, came in at 9:31 a.m. indicating that three men had parked a blue sedan in the neighborhood, put on backpacks, and were now walking through the neighborhood, apparently looking into windows.
Detectives from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's Burglary and Theft Team immediately responded to the area and spotted a blue vehicle containing 3 occupants described in the call being driven in the opposite direction in the 22900 block of Oak Ridge Drive. When the deputies turned around to check on the vehicle, the driver immediately sped away on Oak Ridge Drive and turned onto Shawna Place. After the turn the suspect vehicle crashed into a parked car and the three occupants immediately ran from the area. The deputies saw that at least one of the occupants was armed with a handgun and they gave chase. The suspects headed into the Oaktree Apartments and the suspect who was armed with a handgun, James Windley, MB/31, of Sylmar turned and pointed the gun at one of the deputies. Fearing for his safety and that of the community, the deputy fired four rounds from his duty weapon at the suspect. The suspect dropped the gun and fled into the apartment complex along with the other two suspects, Brandon Lonnell Diggs, MB/24, of Lancaster, and a Van Nuys youth, MB/17.
Deputies managed to take one of the suspects into custody shortly after the incident and a containment was established of the entire area as several deputies responded, along with a helicopter from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Aero Bureau. The two remaining suspects were later taken into custody inside the containment area without incident. One was hiding on a patio of a residence in the 22600 block of Crown Point Court, and the other was found hiding in the bushes near 25400 Calcutta Pass Lane.
Through further investigation, deputies determined that a house in the 25000 block of Oak Ridge Drive had been burglarized and completely ransacked. Deputies are in the process of identifying suspected stolen property and victims. A gun detection dog from the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Transit Services Bureau, and a bloodhound scent dog under contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department were also brought in to conduct an extensive article and gun search in the entire surrounding area.
All three suspects were booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station on felony charges of Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Peace Officer, and Burglary. Suspect Diggs and Windley are also on parole for robbery and drug related offenses. They are each being held without bail pending future court proceedings. Suspect Windley also faces a felony charge of being an Ex-Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The juvenile is being held without bail at Sylmar Juvenile Hall pending future court proceedings. The suspects vehicle, a blue KIA 4-door, was recovered at the scene.
No one was injured by the gunfire. One deputy sustained a minor injury while attempting to apprehend the suspects. He was treated at a local hospital and released. The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time. Anyone with information regarding this case or these suspects is asked to immediately contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station. -ref 22384
If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847.
