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E-mail StoryPatrol car stolen, dumped into Isabella Lake
| Thursday, Feb 28 2008 8:35 AM
Last Updated: Thursday, Feb 28 2008 5:37 PM
Deputies who had just arrested a suspect in a narcotics investigation returned to where they had left their patrol car only to find it was now a submersible.
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A Sheriff's Department patrol car that was tampered with and submerged in Isabella Lake on Sunday is towed out of the water. (Photo courtesy of Sheriff's Department)
While they were arresting the one suspect, another apparently tampered with the car and sent it rolling into Isabella Lake, Sheriff’s Senior Deputy Mark King said.
The incident happened early Sunday morning as deputies conducted an investigation in Lake Isabella near the auxiliary dam on Barlow Road. Deputies found an abandoned vehicle linked to the investigation and they parked their cruiser behind it.
Jason Chambers, 19, of Bodfish, was found hiding by rocks near the lake and was arrested with the assistance of a K9, deputies said. They brought Chambers back to the abandoned vehicle and found that their patrol car was no longer there.
It was underneath several feet of water instead.
“One of the deputies said he could only see the top of the antenna sticking out,” King said.
Deputies searched the area and found Billy Ray Ross, 23, of Lake Isabella. Ross admitted to hiding in the suspect vehicle while Chambers and another suspect ran, but he denied sending the car into the lake. The third suspect had not been identified.
The patrol car was valued at $38,000, which includes installation of spot lights, radio equipment and other add-ons, King said.
Some equipment will probably have to be replaced, but they have been able to start the car and it will probably continue to be used.
King said he wasn’t sure why a news release wasn’t sent out before Thursday. It may partly have been because deputies were investigating to make sure the patrol car didn’t have a mechanical malfunction that caused it to roll into the lake.
Chambers was booked into the Kern County Jail on suspicion of grand theft auto, felony vandalism, resisting arrest and outstanding warrants, deputies said. Ross was booked on suspicion of grand theft auto, felony vandalism, resisting arrest and parole violations.