*****UPDATE**********UPDATE**********UPDATE**********UPDATE**********UPDATE

December 18, 2020

TYPE OF INCIDENT:  Police Officer Injured on Traffic Stop in El Cajon Released from Hospital

LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE:  100 W. Washington El Cajon, CA

UPDATED INFORMATION:

The El Cajon Police Department has developed probable cause for the arrest of the man who fled from police custody during a traffic stop, resulting in the serious injuries to an El Cajon Police Officer. That man has been identified as: 

Pangilinan, David Francis Cepeda d.o.b. 07/28/79

Guamanian male, 5’6” 200 pounds brown hair, brown eyes

An arrest warrant has been issued for Pangilinan and police as police continue the investigation.

 

The officer injured in this incident was released from the hospital today after remaining in intensive care since the incident. The officer sustained significant injuries from the incident, and is expected to fully recover. 

The involved El Cajon Police Officer is identified as Nick Cirello. Officer Cirello started his career as a Police Cadet in June of 2010, and was hired as a Police Officer in August of 2018. 

The El Cajon Police Department would like to sincerely thank the public for their support and concern for Officer Cirello and his recovery.      

 

PREPARED BY:  Lt. Randy Soulard

DIVISION:  Public Information Officer

DATE AND TIME:  12/18/19 @ 2:00pm

REVIEWED BY:  Keith MacArthur, Investigations Division 

Michael Moulton, Chief of Police

 

RESUME OF INCIDENT:   

On 12-14-2020 at approximately 8:30am, officers from the El Cajon Police Department responded to a call of a vehicle blocking the roadway with the driver asleep or unresponsive behind the wheel. Upon arrival, officers found the vehicle partially obstructing the roadway with the driver and a passenger asleep inside. 

When officers woke the occupants, the driver provided identification for someone other than himself and officers began to investigate. During this contact, the driver suddenly started the vehicle and began to put it into gear. One of the officers attempted to detain the driver and keep him from fleeing the scene. In doing so, the officer was trapped in the vehicle and dragged for a distance as the driver fled. As the driver fled with the officer still partially inside the vehicle, the officer was struck by another vehicle that was traveling in the roadway. The officer was ejected from the vehicle and sustained significant injuries.  

The suspect vehicle is described as a black 2019 Volkswagen SUV with CA license plate 8LCE117. This vehicle was found to be a rental out of San Diego. This vehicle was found abandoned a short distance away and was recovered by police.

The driver of the suspect vehicle continued to flee and at this time neither he nor his passenger have been located.

The officer involved in this incident was transported to a local trauma center and is in critical but stable condition. 

The driver of the vehicle is described as a Hispanic male in his 30’s or 40’s with a shaved head and no facial hair. 

The passenger in the suspect vehicle is described as a Hispanic female in her late teens or early 20’s. 

The El Cajon Police Department is asking for the community’s help in solving this crime. Anyone with information regarding this incident or the driver or passenger involved are encouraged to call the El Cajon Police Department at (619) 579-3311 or San Diego Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or on-line at SDCRIMESTOPPERS.ORG. 

   

PREPARED BY:  Lt. Randy Soulard

DIVISION:  Public Information Officer

DATE AND TIME:  12/14/19 @ 1:30pm

REVIEWED BY:  Keith MacArthur, Investigations Division 

Michael Moulton, Chief of Police