Patrol car fired on. Fresno police worry about trend the crime represents

A SWAT team searched neighborhoods near North Cedar and East Dakota avenues Monday after a Fresno police officer’s car was hit by gunfire.

Major streets were shut down during the search in the area, including Cedar and East Shields avenues, East Fountain Way and North Dakota Avenue.

The shooting took place about 3:15 a.m. as police rushed to the area after the driver of a truck reported that he was fired on near Cedar and Shields by a man standing nearby. Police spokesman Jeff La Blue said that as the sergeant was southbound on Cedar near East Fountain Way, his passenger side window burst as it was hit by gunfire. At least one bullet penetrated his dashboard and struck the windshield. Police believe multiple shots were fired. The sergeant took cover and called for backup, and multiple officers as well as Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies and Clovis Police officers sped to the scene.

La Blue said that as the other units arrived, someone fired additional gunshots from an unknown spot. It isn’t known if the shots were directed at officers.

Police have two shooting scenes: the first on Cedar where the truck driver reported gunshots and the second on Cedar near Fountain, north of the first shooting.

La Blue said the fact that more gunfire took place as officers swarmed into the area to investigate the shootings spoke “to the current social climate that we are dealing with.” He said it was a “statement piece that the violence is going to get worse,” citing an 80 percent rise in recent shootings and a 92 percent increase in stabbings since many jail inmates are eligible for release due to a $0 bail policy implemented by the State Judicial Council. That policy was started due to the OVID-19 pandemic. Judicial Council officials have maintained that local judges still have discretion to keep dangerous criminals confined.

This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 7:11 AM.