Two suspects tied to an armed robbery and shooting of a guard are in custody following an intense manhunt that prompted North Bay residents to shelter in place, authorities said late Tuesday.
The robbery was first reported around 1:50 p.m. in the area of the Lakewood Shopping Center at 9018 Brooks Road S. in Windsor, according to Sonoma County sheriff's spokeswoman Sgt. Cecile Focha.
Witnesses told responding deputies that an SUV pulled up behind an armored car parked outside of a Chase bank, two masked men got out and shot one of the guards with a long gun. The guard was shot at least one time, officials said.
The suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, Focha said.
The guard was rushed to a hospital but Focha did not immediately know the extent of his injuries.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office alerted surrounding law enforcement agencies to the suspect's description and heard a short time later that deputies in Calistoga had spotted the suspects, Focha said.
Napa County Sheriff's Office officials said the Calistoga unit pulled up behind the parked suspect vehicle. One suspect got out of the car and began firing at the sheriff cruiser, officials said.
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The Napa County Sheriff's Office said the deputy driving the vehicle used the cruiser to knock the suspect down. The deputy suffered superficial injuries from his airbag being deployed.
"The officer that actually took the first suspect into custody confirmed the ID of the second suspect, the gentleman that ran from us earlier,” Capt. Keith Behlmer of the Napa County Sheriff’s Office said.
The second suspect fled the scene on foot, prompting a manhunt in Calistoga and authorities to order a shelter in place for residents. After a more than 4-hour search, and with the assistance of a K-9 unit and helicopters, the suspect was located in a creek bed near the Napa River and taken into custody, Behlmer said.
The first suspect was taken to a hospital for his injuries.
The investigation continued late into the night Tuesday.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
