Details have been released about an officer-involved shooting on the outskirts of Alturas. On August 17th Michael Ernest Ehmen was arrested for being out of compliance with his sex offender registration. He had three dogs with him, which were taken to the pound. 3 days later Ehmen was released with an ankle monitor. The monitor was cut off later that day and the pound was broken into, with two of Ehmen’s dogs taken. Last Monday a resident of California Pines Boulevard called 9-1-1 to report a burglary in progress. He said he confronted the burglar and told him to wait for police, but the burglar pointed the homeowner’s own pellet rifle at him. There was a fight and an attempted stabbing, and the resident was slashed on the hand before the suspect fled. The resident showed arriving deputies video, and they recognized Ehmen who’s very distinctive looking with wild red hair and facial tattoos. A short time later four deputies saw Ehmen nearby and tried to stop him but he ran down a hill several hundred yards. Arriving at a plateau, he hid behind some trees and deputies got within 20 feet of him when he reportedly charged out with a claw hammer raised in one hand and a prospector’s pick hammer in the other hand. That’s when he was shot multiple times. Ehmen was flown to an out of area hospital and, as of Friday, remained in critical condition. If he recovers he’ll be charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.
-Steve Gibson