PRESS RELEASE: Assault with a Firearm on a Peace Officer

By Mendo Voice Staff | October 26, 2016

A press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office; a man raised his shotgun at deputies near Gualala, but no shots were fired.

Incident Number:
2016-32953
Crime/Incident:
245(d)(1) PC (Assault with a Firearm on a Peace Officer)
11550(e) H&S (Under the influence of a controlled substance while in possession of a loaded firearm)
Location:
44000 block of Gualala River Road in Gualala, CA
Date of Incident:
10-22-2016
Time:
10:20 PM
Victim(s):
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputy
Suspect(s):
Jason Dennis Lusk (33 year-old male from Gualala, CA)
Written By:
Sergeant Dustin Lorenzo #2468
Synopsis:
On 10-22-2016 at approximately 7:00 PM, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to contact Jason Lusk, who was believed to be in the possession of a stolen firearm at a residence in the 38000 block of South Highway 1 in Gualala, California.
Deputies were unable to locate Lusk at the location and began looking for him in the Gualala area.
On 10-22-2016 at approximately 7:40 PM, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies located Lusk’s vehicle in a remote area of Gualala River Road.
When Deputies approached the vehicle, they illuminated the vehicle with their spotlights and immediately heard a subject flee from the location into the dense vegetation. After searching the area, Deputies were unable to locate the subject.
On 10-22-2016 at approximately 10:20 PM, a Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputy returned to the area attempting to locate Lusk.
As the Deputy approached and illuminated the vehicle with his flashlight, the Deputy observed Lusk sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Lusk immediately and without warning jumped out of the vehicle, raised a shotgun into a firing position and aimed it at the Deputy.
The Deputy, who had already drawn his weapon, directed Lusk to drop the shotgun. Lusk hesitated briefly but then complied with the Deputy’s verbal directions.
Lusk was taken into custody without further incident. It was determined Lusk displayed symptoms of being under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant and the shotgun was found to be in a loaded condition. The Deputy was unable to determine if the firearm was stolen at the time and it is under further investigation.
Lusk was arrested for violations of 245(d)(1) PC [Assault with a Firearm on a Peace Officer] and 11550(e) H&S [Under the influence of a controlled substance while in possession of a loaded firearm] and booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $50,000.00 bail.