Fairfield police use Bearcat twice in one week after encountering unconscious, armed drivers
Photo: Fairfield police respond to a car crash involving an armed driver on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Image courtesy Nicholas Wilson for Solano NewsNet)
Fairfield police used an armored vehicle to take an armed driver into custody on Thursday.
The situation played out around 11:45 p.m. along the intersection of Meadowlark Drive and Cormorant Drive when police were notified about a single-vehicle crash into a street sign.
When officers arrived, they discovered an unconscious male in the driver’s seat of a Honda sedan. A cursory look into the vehicle revealed a firearm on the floorboard of the vehicle.
As a precaution, police deployed an armored vehicle known as a “Bearcat” to the scene. A house along Meadowlark Drive was briefly evacuated, and a medical crew with the fire department was asked to stage about a block away while police rendered the scene safe.
The driver of the vehicle woke up a short time after police requested their armored. He was detained by police without further incident.
It was not clear as of early Friday morning if the driver of the vehicle faced any charges.
The incident was the second time in less than a week that Fairfield police decided to use their armored vehicle after encountering an armed driver.
On March 20, police were dispatched to the 2000 block of Walters Road after receiving a report of a vehicle that matched one used in an alleged burglar.
Officers on the scene discovered an unconscious male driver and a loaded handgun inside the car along with apparent drugs, drug packaging and paraphernalia.
Police deployed the Bearcat to the scene, but the driver did not respond to commands that were given over the vehicle’s loudspeaker, authorities said.
It wasn’t until officers deployed a “less-lethal irritant round” that the driver became aware of what was going on. Police said he complied with their commands and was taken into custody without further incident.
The driver in that incident was later identified as Derico Hughes, 30, of Suisun City. Hughes was booked into the Solano County jail on five felony firearm and drug-related charges.
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