Man Arrested After Shooting At Cop During Carlsbad Traffic Stop: SDPD

CARLSBAD, CA — An Oceanside man was arrested after shooting at a police officer during a traffic stop in Carlsbad, authorities said over the weekend.

An officer with the Carlsbad Police Department stopped the driver and sole occupant of a white Ford van for multiple traffic violations at 10:54 p.m. Friday on Madison Street and Oak Avenue in Carlsbad, according to the San Diego Police Department.

As the officer approached the van, the driver pulled out a handgun and fired at least one round at the officer, police said.

"The officer immediately sought cover from the gunfire and returned fire with his service weapon," the department said in a news release.

The suspect, later identified as 25-year-old Oceanside resident Patrick Harold Doherty, drove south about one-eighth of a block before stopping.

The officer called for additional units and a high-risk vehicle stop was conducted when more officers arrived, including a field supervisor and a police dog. The suspect complied with police and was apprehended several minutes later without further incident.

"Neither the suspect nor the officer was struck by gunfire. However, several rounds struck the suspect's van," police said. "During a visual inspection of the van at the scene, a ghost-gun type handgun was seen on the driver's side floorboard."

Doherty was booked into Vista Jail on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer, felony resisting, assault with a firearm on a police officer, and an outstanding arrest warrant for driving under the influence.

The officer who fired his weapon has been employed by the Carlsbad Police Department since August 2022, police said. He currently serves as a patrol officer.

The SDPD's Homicide Unit was called to the scene to conduct the officer-involved shooting investigation, per countywide policy.

Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call the SDPD's Homicide Unit at 619- 531-2293 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.