Calaveras County Officer Involved Shooting

By B.J. Hansen Published Jan 18, 2011 05:35 am Updated Jan 18, 2011 05:36 am

Railroad Flat, CA — A Railroad Flat man opened fire on two Calaveras County Sheriff’s Deputies after they tried to pull him over for a traffic stop yesterday afternoon.

The deputies tried to pull over 54-year-old Richard Kenneth Cooper at 3pm on Highway 26 and Railroad Flat Road. The deputies lost track of the vehicle, so they located a barn about 500 yards south of Highway 26. They got out of the car to investigate, and Cooper allegedly fired a round into the windshield of the patrol car.

The deputies fired back and called in resources from the Amador County Sheriff’s Department, Angels Camp PD and CHP to set up a perimeter. Cooper was captured and arrested at a nearby residence at around 7pm. One of the deputies had a slight injury from gunfire debris. As a matter of procedure, the deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave. No other injuries were reported.

The deputies were part of a newly formed Special Enforcement Team that was created by Sheriff Gary Kuntz to target high crime areas of the county. Yesterday was the first shift for the team.