More than 20 rounds reportedly fired during Merced County Sheriffs high-speed chase

Deputies with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office reportedly fired more than 20 rounds during a high-speed, officer-involved shooting earlier this month.

Juan Ibarra Rosales, a 38-year-old from Merced County, reportedly suffered a gunshot wound to his upper body and sustained an injury to one of his legs when he crashed a vehicle during a pursuit in Delhi.

He’s since been charged with multiple felonies, according to court documents.

The shooting incident happened Feb. 1.

Merced County Sheriff’s deputies responded around 8 p.m. to the area of Wood Street and Hillside Street in Delhi for a report of suspicious vehicle that reportedly drove past a residence and allegedly tried to run over the reporting party, court documents show.

When deputies arrived, they located a single occupant inside a 2023 gray Hyundai Sonata that was registered to Ibarra Rosales. Deputies later confirmed Ibarra Rosales to be the driver of the vehicle.

A case summary indicates the deputies attempted to conduct an enforcement stop on the vehicle due to a missing front license plate. The driver of the vehicle failed to yield to deputies and took off resulting in a vehicle pursuit.

Speeds reached 130 mph

According to the case report, the pursuit lasted roughly 20 to 30 minutes throughout the Delhi area and the suspect vehicle allegedly reached speeds of up to and estimated 130 mph.

The report alleges Ibarra Rosales drove his vehicle into Merced Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles when in the area of Fiestas Event Center.

Deputies ordered Ibarra Rosales to exit his vehicle at gunpoint and when he did not comply, multiple deputies reportedly attempted to remove the man from the vehicle.

Ibarra Rosales allegedly accelerated through a chain-link fence and gate before continuing to accelerate, resulting in four deputies discharging their firearms in fear of their safety, according to the case report.

Ibarra Rosales allegedly continued to accelerate after shots were fired and drove through a fence and through a nearby gas station, nearly striking a pedestrian as deputies continued to shoot at the vehicle.

The Hyundai then drove south at a high rate of speed before ultimately crashing into an SUV driven by an elderly woman, the report said. Both Ibarra Rosales and the woman were transported by Emergency Medical Services for treatment.

The report said authorities performed a round count following the shooting and determined the sheriff sergeant and three deputies who discharged their firearms fired a total of 22 rounds during the incident with the assumption the firearms were fully loaded with an additional round in the chamber. Merced County Sheriff’s Office detectives reportedly located 20 spent shell casings at the scene.

Sheriff officials refused to comment on the number of rounds fired by the deputies, saying it is still under investigation.

Drugs found in suspect vehicle

The report said the vehicle was struck multiple times by apparent gunfire and sustained significant front end damage as well as other body damage in the incident. Authorities reportedly found about one gram of suspected methamphetamine in Ibarra Rosales’ clothing following the pursuit.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Merced County Superior Court, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office charged Ibarra Rosales with three counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon with enhancements, felony evading while driving recklessly with an enhancement and felony vandalism over $400, as well as an enhancement.

Sheriff’s office officials said the four deputies involved in the shooting are no longer on paid administrative leave, but did not say if the deputies have returned to active duty. No reprimands have been handed down to any of the deputies involved at this time. Officials refused to speculate on the intent of the deputies involved in the shooting, saying that is something that should become clear during the investigation.

Ibarra Rosales remains in the hospital in stable condition under the medical professionals.

An arraignment hearing on Feb. 7, was continued to Feb. 21, and Ibarra Rosales’ bond was set at $150,000, according to court documents. Authorities said that by law, there is a 45 day timeline to release body camera footage of the incident. That timeline could be extended if more time is needed per the investigation.

The last time a Merced County Sheriff’s Office deputy was involved in a shooting was on April 29, 2023 when deputy Lucy Lopez fired three rounds at Jonathan Diaz-Duarte, fatally injuring him after he fired one round that struck the deputy in the ear.