Update 7:38 p.m. A 23-year-old Yucaipa man attacked a deputy with a shovel Monday morning in Wildwood Canyon and the deputy fatally shot him, San Bernardino County sheriff's officials said in a statement issued about 12 hours after the incident.
Theodore Wann "was paranoid, stating people were following him and was possibly under the influence of narcotics," the Sheriff's Department statement said.
At about 6:25 a.m. Aug. 13, deputies were sent to the 34000 block of Avenue G to check a report about Wann's behavior. It was also reported he was trying to flee in a vehicle.
"Deputies arrived and discovered Wann fled on foot running through several yards in the area in an attempt to avoid them," sheriff's officials said.
"When a deputy located Wann, Wann engaged the deputy in a physical altercation ultimately attacking the deputy with a shovel," sheriff's officials said in the statement. "Fearing for his safety, the deputy fired his duty weapon striking the suspect. Wann was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel."
The deputy, who was not identified, sustained minor injuries.
The sheriff's Specialized Investigations Division, Homicide Detail investigators were called out to conduct the investigation.
Anyone with more information was urged to call Detective Steve Pennington or Sergeant Rick Bessinger of the Specialized Investigations Division, Homicide Detail (909) 387-3589 or Sheriff’s dispatch at (909) 356-3973.
Callers wishing to remain anonymous may contact the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.
Update 2:58 p.m. Homicide detectives, crime scene analysts and coroner's investigators remained in Wildwood Canyon near Avenue G past noon Monday at the scene of a reported fatal officer-involved shooting.
Crime scene tape was strung across entrances to residences on both sides of Wildwood Creek, on 3rd Street and on Avenue G.
Crime scene technicians were parked near a horse corral in the 34900 block of Avenue G on the south side of Wildwood Creek. Homicide investigators were examining the interior of a motorhome parked in a driveway further west on Avenue G.
Deputies on Third Street had access to the Wildwood Creek wash closed off as a crime scene, in addition to properties on both sides of the wash.
Posted 11:28 a.m. A deputy who scuffled with a suspect fatally shot the individual Monday morning on Avenue G in Yucaipa and the officer-involved shooting was being investigated, a sheriff's spokesman said.
Someone called for help before 7 a.m. Aug. 13 indicating their son was acting strange and may be on drugs, Cpl. Dave Clifford of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said.
A deputy responded to the 34000 block of Avenue G, scuffled with an unidentified suspect, and a confirmed officer-involved shooting took place, Clifford said.
"The suspect is deceased at the scene," Clifford said. "Our homicide investigators are assigned. We don't know who was shot at this point."
The deputy, whose name was not released, sustained minor injuries, Clifford said.
Avenue G parallels Wildwood Creek in Yucaipa.
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