Lompoc resident Steve Aguilar was arrested on Aug. 1 on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly driving his vehicle at a Lompoc Police Department (LPD) officer, who then fired shots at the suspect.
No officers were injured in the incident and although Aguilar was not hurt by the gunfire, he did sustain minor injuries from later being shot with a Taser gun, according to LPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Kevin Martin.
Before the shooting, Lompoc Police found Aguilar and a woman arguing near the intersection of Laurel Avenue and Second Street at about 12:45 a.m., according to an LPD press release. Both individuals were reportedly uncooperative with police, and Aguilar, who was in his car, allegedly drove toward one of the officers.
The officer’s name has not been released and Martin would not say whether the woman was also in the car.
The officer felt threatened, according to Martin, and reacted by firing an unidentified number of shots toward Aguilar before the suspect left his vehicle and attempted to run away. Officers, who chased the suspect on foot for a brief time, were able to arrest him after shooting him with a Taser gun.
Aguilar was immediately booked into jail in connection with the attempted murder of a police officer, criminal threats, and resisting or delaying an officer. Aguilar’s injuries were treated, Martin said.
The woman, according to Martin, was interviewed by police but was not arrested.
Martin said it is unclear if Aguilar and the woman were using drugs or alcohol. “Right now we’re going to hold off on some of the information because it’s still being investigated,” Martin said. “When that’s finished, we’ll put out an additional press release. But we don’t want to deter too far from the initial press release until it’s wrapped up.”
This article appears in Aug 3-10, 2017.