Deputy On Dating App During Standoff Under Investigation: RivCo Sheriff's Office

JURUPA VALLEY, CA — The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deputy who was caught on video scrolling through what appeared to be a dating app on his phone during a standoff with an armed person last week.

CBS News published the aerial footage of the deputy scrolling as he took cover behind an armored vehicle just feet from the armed person’s car.

“This behavior does not reflect the standards, expectations, or policies of our department,” the sheriff’s office said in a prepared statement.

“We have initiated an internal investigation and will take appropriate action based on the findings. The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to professionalism and holding our employees accountable.”

The incident began shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday, when deputies located a person wanted for grand theft who was driving in Jurupa Valley, authorities said, with the discovery eventually resulting in a pursuit during which deputies learned the person had a handgun. A failed grappler intervention led to the pursued vehicle crashing into a wall in the 11000 block of Antigua Drive, according to the sheriff’s office.

The person refused to come out of the vehicle, authorities said, and deputies established a close perimeter at the crash scene.

After multiple attempts to negotiate a surrender, the person stopped communicating and was eventually found to have suffered injuries consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the sheriff’s office.

The person was pronounced dead at the scene as of 6 p.m., authorities said.

City News Service contributed to this story.