Police K9 shot, suspects arrested after freeway chase

Police K9 Cezar is wheeled into surgery after being shot in the leg. He is expected to make a full recovery. (Photo: SD Sheriff)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Three suspects face charges of attempted murder, assault with a firearm, felony evading and resisting arrest following a freeway chase that ended in Murrieta Monday morning, authorities said.

A police K9 was shot and wounded at the end of the chase, which began just before midnight Sunday night, according to a CHP news release. San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the report of an armed robbery at a convenience story in the community of Lakeside. Deputies observed three men running from the store and entering a gray BMW sedan. At least one was armed with a pistol.

CHP took over the pursuit as it traveled north on Interstate 15 at speeds up to 130 miles per hour. The BWW exited and re-entered the freeway twice. In Temecula, the suspect vehicle rammed a CHP vehicle on Winchester Road.

Continuing north on Interstate 215, the suspect vehicle exited at Los Alamos Road in Murrieta as a passenger fired multiple rounds at pursuing officers. A CHP vehicle was struck by gunfire but no officers were struck. The BMW stopped at a gas station just east of the freeway and all three suspects fled on foot. They failed in an attempt to carjack a vehicle from two bystanders in the parking lot.

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department deputies released a police K9. One of the suspects was bitten by the dog but shot the K9 and continued to run. CHP officers arrested two of the suspects and began a massive search for the third that included members of the CHP, San Diego Sheriff’s Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Murrieta Police Department, Menifee Police Department, and Hemet Police Department. Helicopters were used to assist in the massive search.

About an hour later, a Murrieta Police Department K9 located the third suspect, who suffered bite wounds. He was arrested and there are no outstanding suspects.

The suspects -- Alexander Juan Portilla, 18 of Santee; Angel Quinonez, 19, of Lemon Grove, and Killian Samuel Tompkins, 21, of San Diego – are each being held at Southwest Detention Center with bail set at $1 million. All are due in court on Thursday.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department K9, Cezar, was transported to an emergency veterinary clinic for treatment. He survived and is expected to make a full recovery.