Man wounded by Fresno deputies in exchange of fire undergoes mental evaluation

A 53-year-old Squaw Valley man was undergoing a mental evaluation Monday after he was wounded as he exchanged fire with Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies during an overnight standoff.

Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti said the man faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and negligent discharge of a firearm. The man’s name was initially withheld until he was formally booked.

He was identified Thursday as Lance Legrande. He remains hospitalized and has been booked electronically into Fresno County Jail on five felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, Botti said.

Botti said the man called the sheriff’s office about 10 p.m. Sunday to report that about a dozen people were tearing up his property and killing his animals in the 35000 block of George Smith Road. He said he would get a firearm and defend himself. The man’s son was inside the home and dispatchers said the man wasn’t making sense, Botti added.

Arriving deputies were trying to get the son out of the home when they heard gunshots inside. After the son exited the home and walked to deputies, the man reportedly fired toward the deputies and two deputies returned fire, Botti said.

A SWAT team arrived at the scene and more gunshots were heard about 12 a.m. Shortly before 1 a.m., deputies found the man running across the property, took him into custody, and he was taken to a Fresno hospital.

Detectives obtained a warrant and searched the property.

This story was originally published November 26, 2018 at 6:19 AM with the headline "Man wounded by Fresno deputies in exchange of fire undergoes mental evaluation."