On Feb. 21, a sheriff deputy was injured at the Chevron gas station on Tavern Road in Alpine, after having an altercation with a suspect. The County Sheriff’s Department and the Alpine Fire Protection District were responding to a call about a male with a medical emergency.
Alpine Fire Chief Brian Boggeln said as the suspect was being assessed, he decided to leave the scene and backed into the fire engine parked directly behind him. Boggeln said that the incident was under investigation and could not verify that the suspect hit the deputy with an open truck door as he attempted to flee.
“At this time, it is under investigation, but appears to be intentional,” he told 911 Video News.
The deputy was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
The suspect is Javier Vargas, 32, from National City with several felony warrants out for his arrest. He faces several charges such as DUI, assault of a peace officer, intentionally hitting the fire engine, and others.
