On December 16th, a man was arrested under the accusation that he had purposefully crashed his car into deputies following a pursuit in San Bernardino County. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department confirmed that the man, identified as 52-year-old Stephen Bloomer from Twentynine Palms, was responsible for the incident.
Deputies first noticed the suspect when he was seen speeding in a Corvette on Twentynine Palms Highway, near Torres Avenue intersection in Joshua Tree, slightly before 1:00 pm. When authorities attempted to pull over Bloomer, he continued to drive in an erratic manner, leading to a chase by patrol units. Out of concern for the safety of other drivers, the pursuing deputies eventually called off the chase.
According to reports, a California Highway Patrol officer spotted Bloomer in his Corvette at a Circle K in Morongo Valley later in the day. The officer tried to apprehend Bloomer, at which point Bloomer reversed his car and crashed into the CHP vehicle. A second deputy, who arrived at the scene and parked their patrol car nearby, was targeted as Bloomer accelerated and intentionally crashed into the occupied patrol vehicle. The deputy inside the patrol car suffered minor injuries, was transported to the hospital, treated, and later released.
Bloomer was subsequently arrested at the scene. The charges are attempted murder of a peace officer and felony assault on a peace officer. An ongoing investigation of the incident is being conducted by the department. San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department is urging anyone with additional information to get in touch with Deputy Richard Maldonado or Detective Tyler A. Bengard of the Morongo Basin Sheriffs Station. A toll-free number and website are also available for anonymous tips.
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