Copperopolis, CA…On May 29, 2019, at about 7:07 AM Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a vehicle on fire near the intersection of Lower Telegraph RD and Hwy 4. Fire personnel and Calaveras County Deputies were dispatched to the scene. Once the fire was extinguished a body was located inside the vehicle. Investigators were summoned to the scene and subsequently took over the investigation. The cause of death is undetermined at this time. Investigators learned there may have been a citizen attempting to extinguish the fire with a hand held fire extinguisher prior to the fire department arriving. Investigators would like to speak with that person to gain more information regarding the scene prior to the fire overtaking the vehicle. There is no additional information at this time.

Update 1930 hrs.

Investigators from the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire remained on the scene throughout the day processing the scene and evidence. A Cal Fire Captain observed a male subject in a field who appeared to be hiding. The Cal Fire Captain notified detectives who were still on the scene and a male subject was found hiding in the grass and refused to comply. The subject stated he was armed with a firearm and was making threats toward law enforcement and suicidal statements. The subject was hiding in an area right off Highway 4 and Telegraph Road west of Copperopolis California. Highway 4 was shut down by CHP in both directions for an extended period of time. The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and two K-9s arrived at the scene. A Sheriff’s Hostage Negotiator spoke with the subject in an attempt to get the subject to come out from where he was hiding. The subject kept repeatedly claiming he was armed and refused to come out. The subject was subsequently taken into custody by Calaveras County Sheriff’s K-9 Knox and the SWAT Team.

Evidence was found linking the male subject to the car with the deceased person. The subject was arrested transported and booked into the Calaveras County Jail. Identification of the suspect is pending at the time of this media release. The deceased person’s identity has not yet been confirmed and an autopsy is pending to determine the cause and or manner of death.

Sergeant Greg Stark or a Sheriff’s spokesperson will be available tomorrow morning (5/30/19) for interviews or subsequent questioning. Based upon the evidence at the scene Sheriff’s Investigators are treating this case as a homicide pending further results of the autopsy and evidence processing.

Cal Fire Investigators, CHP and ACPD Officer and K-9 assisted in this investigation and apprehension.
The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Detectives are encouraging anyone with information to call the Sheriff’s Office at (209) 754-6500.