BAKERSFIELD POLICE

DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Greg Williamson, Chief of Police
________________________________________________________________________
Contact: Sergeant Mary DeGeare
Public Information Officer
661-326-3803
mdegeare@Bakersfieldpd.us

For Immediate Release March 25, 2010

On 3/25/10, at about 9:25 a.m., a 20 year old man reported that earlier that morning, just
after midnight he was standing in front of his room at the Econo Lodge Motel, 5200 Olive
Tree Court when he was approached by a man and a woman armed with a handgun.
He reported he the pair robbed him and forced him into his own 2001 Cadillac Seville,
keeping him captive over night. He said they eventually stopped at a hotel on Union
Avenue where he was left unattended in his car and he chose to run. He reported the
offense to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office which in turn broadcasted the nature of the
offense and description of the Cadillac and the armed suspects to law enforcement
agencies, county wide.

On March 25, 2010, at about 2:00 p.m., Officer Clint Blackburn spotted the Cadillac
Seville in the area of South Union and Ming Avenues occupied by a female driver and
male passenger. He caught up to the car and attempted to stop it however, the suspects
led him on a short pursuit into the 2400 block of South P Street, where it dead ends into
the canal. The driver of the car stopped short of the canal and the 20 year old male
passenger exited and ran with his hands concealed near his waist. Believing this violent
suspect might escape into the nearby neighborhood and that he was possibly armed,
Officer Blackburn, who was the only officer on scene at this point, fired multiple times at
the male suspect, and then lost sight of him as the suspect concealed himself in front of
the car. The female driver also exited the driver’s side and ran from the car with her
hands concealed. Officer Blackburn fired multiple rounds at her at which time she went
to the ground and placed her hands in a position where he could see she was not
holding a weapon. Officer Blackburn held the two at gunpoint until assisting officers
arrived. The male suspect was taken to a local hospital for a gunshot wound to the right
leg. The female was not injured and is in custody. The investigation is still underway.

The sheriff’s office will identify the carjacking/kidnap victims and suspects when it is
appropriate to their investigation as it is still ongoing.

Officer Blackburn, who is a 15 year veteran, will be placed on routine administrative

leave.