Crime & Safety
Man Shot By Deputies After North County Pursuit Sentenced
A 21-year-old San Marcos man who led authorities on a high-speed pursuit from Vista to the Torrey Preserve marsh was sentenced to prison.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – A 21-year-old San Marcos man who led authorities on a high-speed pursuit from Vista to the Torrey Preserve marsh, where he was shot by sheriff's deputies when he advanced toward them, was sentenced Wednesday to three years in state prison.
Jose Trujillo pleaded guilty in October to felony evading with reckless driving and resisting an executive officer.
Trujillo – who has a DUI conviction from 2016 – had a blood-alcohol level of .05 percent five hours after the high-speed chase the night of July 20, said Deputy District Attorney Kyle Sutterley.
Defense attorney Ty Carss said Trujillo has a mental disorder and was using alcohol to self-medicate.
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Carss said Trujillo's father was deported the day he led deputies on the wild chase.
"He made a huge mistake," Carss told Judge Polly Shamoon, arguing unsuccessfully for probation.
After being placed on probation following the 2016 DUI, Trujillo was convicted of resisting arrest, was involved in a speed contest, and was convicted of a felony resisting an executive officer, the judge said.
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San Diego police said a sheriff's deputy tried to pull Trujillo's car over in Vista just before 8:45 p.m. on July 20, but the suspect drove off.
Trujillo headed north on surface streets and entered westbound state Route 78 at Sycamore Avenue, then continued onto southbound Interstate 5, at times reaching speeds of more than 100 mph.
During the pursuit, Trujillo called 911 and told the dispatcher he had a loaded handgun, that a female passenger was with him in the car, and that he wanted to commit "suicide by cop," said SDPD Lt. Anthony Dupree.
Trujillo exited I-5 at Leucadia Boulevard and let his passenger out of the car before continuing to flee from officers back on to the freeway. He exited again at Carmel Valley Road and drove west, then veered south on to the Torrey Preserve marsh, driving about 200 yards before stopping.
Trujillo got out of his vehicle, advanced toward deputies, and was shot by two of them when he pointed something at them and took a shooting stance, Dupree said.
By KELLY WHEELER/City News Service
Image via Shutterstock
