District Attorney: Officers justified in shooting of Phelan man

PINON HILLS, Calif. (VVNG.com) — The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office said the actions of two police officers were legally justified in a shooting that left a 43-year-old Phelan man injured.

The suspect, Harold Lynn Gunlogson was shot multiple times during a shootout with San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Detective Scott Chapdelaine and Sergeant Robert Vaccari on October 18, 2017. 

On the day of the incident, the Santa Ana Police Department alerted the sheriff’s department to be on the lookout for Gunlogson and his white panel van with black rims and paper plates, possibly parked at his home in Phelan.

Sheriff’s officials said, Gunlogson attempted to elude officers by driving at reckless speeds over unmaintained roads in the desert. After briefly loosing sight of the vehicle, Detective Chapdelaine and Sgt. Vaccari caught up with the van and attempted a traffic stop. Gunslow refused to pull over and continued driving through the desert where his van became stuck on some rocks.

According to the DA’s written case evaluation, Gunlogson had pointed a gun at his wife’s head, made threats, and then burned down her RV. There was also information that Gunlogson would “shoot it out” with police.

Gunlogson’s immediately got out of his van and without hesitation started shooting at the officers who had stopped behind him. Fearing for their lives, both officers returned fire, stated the report.

“Based on the facts presented in the reports and the applicable law, the use of deadly force by all involved deputies was a proper exercise of their rights of self-defense and defense of others and therefore their actions were legally justified,” stated the DA’s office.

CORRECTION: Harold Lynn Gunlogson, is not deceased as previously reported in error. Gunlogson is in jail on his charges.

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