Kings Sheriff's aircraft help nab probation suspect firing rounds near Rancheria

According to the Kings County Sheriff’s Department, the aircraft responded to the report of gunshots in the slough area by the Rancheria at approximately 1 a.m. When they arrived on the scene Skyking 1 alerted Sheriff’s units in the area of a red laser being pointed at their aircraft coming from a vehicle on the ground in the slough area.

 The vehicle began travelling through the slough area as Skyking 1 directed Sheriff’s units to its location. The vehicle, a 2014 blue Dodge 1500, 4-door truck was located travelling east on Jeff Road on the Tachi-Yokut Rancheria.

Deputies attempted to stop the truck near Thomas Road and Jeff Road but the truck fled into the slough area and away from deputies. Prior to fleeing into the slough area, the truck drove directly at one of the patrol deputies nearly striking his patrol vehicle.

Skyking 1 was able to monitor the movements of the Dodge truck through the slough area while continuing to give deputies updated information.  The truck continued to drive erratically through the slough until it became stuck on the slough bank directly behind South Road.

The driver of the Dodge fled from the vehicle into the backyard of several residences while Skyking 1 monitored and relayed the driver's movements to deputies on the ground. Deputies were able to contact and take into custody the driver identified as 29-year-old Eddie Albert Ignacio.

Ignacio is on active probation out of Kings County for PC 29800 (Felon in possession of a firearm). Deputies searched the vehicle and located several empty shell casings and one live .40 caliber round of ammunition.

Deputies were then able to trace the exact steps Ignacio took after fleeing from the vehicle and located the keys to the truck along with an AR-15 rifle. This rifle was equipped with a red laser and two 30-round magazines. One of the magazines inserted into the rifle was empty.  Ignacio was later booked into the Kings County Jail on the above listed charges.