A La Mesa man is accused of using a stolen Range Rover as a weapon against law enforcement officers Friday in a pursuit that began in Spring Valley and ended in the East Village.
A San Diego police officer opened fire on the suspect at the MTS Trolley Yard after the vehicle accelerated directly at the officer, SDPD officials said.
An NBC 7 user sent video in of the police pursuit that occurred just before midnight.
Jeremiah Fetalaiga, 21, of La Mesa was taken into custody near 6th and Broadway, police said.
The pursuit began just before midnight in Spring Valley where the San Diego County sheriff’s deputies tried to pull over the driver of what was believed to be a stolen vehicle.
The pursuit continued along State Route 125, westbound Interstate 8 and southbound State Route 163.
California Highway Patrol officers were involved but eventually, San Diego police took over the pursuit.
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At one point, SDPD officers said the driver attempted to ram into an unoccupied patrol car parked on a downtown street. He also attempted to run into a uniformed police officer standing outside a patrol car in an attempt to roll out a spike strip, officials said.
However, it was when the pursuit led into the MTS Trolley Yard at 1535 Newton Avenue in Barrio Logan when shots were fired.
SDPD officers say the suspect accelerated the Range Rover directly at an officer's patrol car.
"Fearing that the suspect was going to intentionally ram his marked vehicle, the officer fired several rounds at the suspect from his handgun," officials said in a news release.
The pursuit continued into the East Village where it ended with a collision at 6th Ave and Broadway.
An officer ended the pursuit by striking the SUV when the suspect was making a U-turn, police said.
Robert Tunstall said the officers did the right thing.
“The Range Rover was coming up the wrong way on 6th Avenue. He went to take a left on Broadway and over corrected and ran into a pole,” Tunstall said.
“All of them just drew their guns and said 'Don't move don't move',“ he said.
Fetalaiga was taken to a nearby hospital after he complained of pain.
He will face multiple criminal charges including assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, felony failure to yield and possession of a stolen vehicle, SDPD officials said.
The officer who opened fire in the pursuit was identified as a nine-year veteran of the department who is currently assigned to the Canine Unit.
