On September 30, 2011, at approximately 2:53am, the Turlock Police Department responded to the 2000 Block of Waring Road, for the report of shots fired. Investigation revealed that an off duty police officer from an allied law enforcement agency had been involved in a shooting. An initial press release was distributed but while withholding some information and details.
During the initial investigation, the motivation of the driver was unknown. Safety issues related to the neighborhood and the officer were considered; therefore some information was withheld until further investigation could be conducted.
Additional and updated information from the Turlock Police Department now reports that the off duty officer involved, and who was not in uniform, was Jason Stewart of the Modesto Police Department.
Officer Stewart heard sounds of a vehicle driving through front yards. He investigated and saw fresh damage to two front yards, caused by a vehicle having driven recklessly through them.
According to Turlock Police, Officer Stewart was in one of the front yards when he saw a pickup drive slowly into the driveway of one of the victim residences. Believing the vehicle to have possibly been involved, he approached it attempting to obtain the vehicle license number and/or talk to the suspect(s). As he approached, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and drove toward the officer who retreated to avoid injury. As he did so, the officer fired his weapon at the truck, striking it four times. The vehicle fled southbound on Waring Road.
Late Friday night, the registered owner of the truck involved in the incident contacted the Turlock Police Department. The registered owner does not appear to have been present at the time of the incident.
The driver has subsequently been contacted and was not alone in the truck.
The names of the occupants in the pickup are not being released at this time as the investigation is continuing. The vehicle involved was a 2006, white Ford pickup and has been accounted for.
Neither the occupants nor the officer were injured.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Brandon Bertram at (209) 664-7323. The Turlock Police Department is an active participant in the Crime Stoppers Program.
