Damaged Mariposa County Sheriff Vehicle

June 12, 2017 - The Mariposa County Sheriff Department reports on Sunday afternoon, June 11, 2017,  at approximately 3:30 p.m. a Mariposa area California Highway Patrol Officer attempted to stop a speeding vehicle traveling northbound on Highway 49 South near the Mariposa/Madera County Line. Due to the excessive speed and reckless driving of the suspect vehicle, the CHP Officer lost sight of vehicle and radioed the incident and suspect vehicle descriptors which was sent to partnering law enforcement. The vehicle described as a yellow Dodge truck with Texas plates was driving at a very high rate of speed, extremely erratic and dangerous.

(Left) Victor Moon

Mariposa County Sheriff Deputies responding to assist CHP, attempted to stop the fleeing suspect vehicle by using a “Stop-Stick” approximately one mile south of the town of Mariposa. The suspect vehicle avoided the Stop-Sticks and sped away on side roads .

For the next thirty minutes, CHP and the Sheriff’s Deputies continued to re-locate and attempt to stop the reckless driver. The suspect was forcibly stopped by a Mariposa County Sheriff’s Sergeant, who channeled the suspect’s vehicle from the highway as the suspect vehicle was driving dangerously toward oncoming vehicles on Highway 49 North in the Bear Valley area of Mariposa County.

During the ongoing cat and mouse pursuit, the suspect driver attempted to run over three officers, two Sheriff’s Deputies and a CHP Officer. During one of these attempts, in the Silver Bar and Ben Hur area, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Sergeant fired twice at the rear tire of the suspect vehicle in attempt to disable and stop it. However, the vehicle fled away.

The California Highway Patrol and the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation of this incident. The forcible stop done to avoid a head on collision involving the suspect vehicle was also captured on the CHP dashcam. At this time we don’t know what led him to drive so dangerously or why he was in the area.

“I am very pleased with the response and restraint shown by the deputies and CHP during this incident. The maneuver done by our Sergeant to stop the vehicle, undoubtedly saved the lives of innocent people driving along Highway 49 North," said Mariposa County Sheriff Doug Binnewies.

The suspect, Victor Moon, 28 of Shamrock, Texas has been booked into the Mariposa County Adult Detention Facility on charges of:
245(A)(1) PC- Felony- Assault with a Deadly Weapon
245(C)PC – Felony- Assault With a Deadly Weapon on a Peace Officer
2800.2(A) VC- Felony- Reckless evading a Law Enforcement Officer
11550(A) HS- Misdemeanor- Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance
23103(A)VC- Misdemeanor- Reckless Driving
His bail amount is currently set at $100,000.

The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Sergeant will be placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure and protocol in all Officer Involved Shooting incidents.




Source: Mariposa County Sheriff Department