​Arrestee Fires Shots At Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputy

SAN JOSE, CA — The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office released the identity of an arrestee who allegedly got possession of a gun and opened fire in the lower level of the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose early Wednesday morning.

A San Jose police officer was bringing 40-year-old Joseph Castro into the jail around 1:40 a.m. Wednesday, according to the sheriff's office.

While restrained with handcuffs in the back of the officer's patrol car, Castro managed to access the officer's gun and turned it on the officer, who attempted to restrain him. The officer then moved to a safer location and called other officers within the jail for assistance.

The shots fired prompted a lockdown of the facility while deputies and officers from the sheriff's office, San Jose and Santa Clara police departments and the California Highway Patrol came to assist.

San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia said the officer was filling out paperwork in the driver’s seat when Castro slipped out of his handcuffs, The San Jose Mercury News reports.

According to the report, Garcia said Castro managed to “somehow to pry the Plexiglas partition away enough and begins to squeeze himself through. The officer gets out of the driver’s side, opens the door and calls for help as he tries to drag him back in. The man gets hold of his firearm and starts firing rounds.”

Members of the Sheriff's Emergency Response and Crisis Negotiation teams also responded to the basement parking lot of the jail, located at 150 W. Hedding St.

Castro continued firing at officers from inside the patrol vehicle, but tactical teams were able to move in and take him into custody shortly after 5:45 a.m. without further incident. No injuries were reported as a result of the shots fired during the standoff.

Detectives with the sheriff's office have opened an investigation into how Castro acquired the gun. The initial investigation found that the officer followed standard protocol by stowing his gun in a secured area of the patrol car before bringing Castro to the jail's booking area.

People with knowledge of the case are advised to contact the Investigative Services Division at the sheriff's office at (408) 808-4500. Tipsters can also contact the office anonymously at (408) 808-4431.

— Bay City News contributed to this report