3 ARRESTED AFTER DRIVER PULLS GUN ON CHP OFFICER IN SPRING VALLEY

September 13, 2012 (Spring Valley) – On September 11 at about 12:01 p.m., a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer attempted to stop a car for a Vehicle Code violation. The car accelerated away and the officer pursued it. According to Lt. Glenn Giannantonio with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, the vehicle slowed in front of a house on Sacramento Avenue as the driver looked back at the pursuing CHP patrol car. The vehicle accelerated again and drove around the block in a circle, stopping in front of the same house.

The driver of the vehicle, Arturo Serrato, a 28-year-old Chula Vista resident, jumped out of the car and ran towards the house. The CHP officer stopped and exited his vehicle.

“The officer saw that Serrato was holding a black semi-automatic handgun in his hand,” said Lt. Giannantonio. “Serrato turned and looked back at the officer as he ran towards the house. The officer, fearing for his safety and for the safety of the people who may be inside the residence, fired his duty weapon at Serrato, with one round grazing his left shoulder. The suspect dove through a front window of the house.”

A perimeter was set up around the house and two other people, a 24-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man, fled from the house. Both were detained and eventually arrested on unrelated charges.

Serrato was ordered out of the house over a Sheriff's ASTREA helicopter public address system. He exited the house and was taken into custody for felony failure to yield, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and for being a parolee-at-large. Serrato was transported to Scripps Mercy Hospital and was treated for his injury before being booked into jail.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321/after hours at (858) 565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS (8477).