December 28, 2023 - Merced County Sheriff’s Office officials report that the investigators are currently in the area of Peerlees Avenue and Orchard Park Drive in Atwater investigating an officer involved shooting.

At approximately 2:45 P.M. an Atwater Police Department Officer initiated a vehicle stop on an Orange Ford Truck for speeding in the area.  The driver of the vehicle was armed with a handgun and ran into a residence in the 2700 Block of Peerless Avenue in Atwater.  During a brief standoff with the suspect two Atwater police department officers fired their department issued firearms missing the suspect. 

A Merced County Sheriff’s Deputy struck the armed suspect with three less-lethal shotgun rounds.  Deputies and officers were able to detain the suspect without additional injury to the suspect, bystanders, or officers.  The suspect was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released into the custody of sheriff investigators.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office is in the preliminary stages of this investigation and we will release additional information as it becomes available. 

If anyone has information regarding this incident, please call the Sheriff’s Office at (209) 385-7445.

Source & photo: Merced County Sheriff's Office