Mariposa deputy injured in shootout identified
A Mariposa County deputy sheriff shot in a gunfight last week, allegedly with a Merced man, was identified Sunday.
Deputy Rudy Mirelez, 39, remained in critical condition Sunday at a Modesto hospital, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Officials said Mirelez is expected to “undergo many more surgeries on his road to recovery.”
In a brief statement issued Sunday, Mirelez’s wife, Christine, thanked the sheriff’s offices of both Mariposa and Stanislaus counties for the “round-the-clock support for Rudy” and the outpouring of community support since the incident Thursday morning.
“Rudy’s recovery is our biggest concern and we would like to ask for your continued thoughts and prayers and request that you respect our privacy as we continue to process this tragic event and support our husband and father,” Christine Mirelez said in the statement.
Brian Ballasch, 35, of Merced has been accused of shooting at four deputies, including Mirelez, around 6 a.m. Thursday on Highway 49, south of Mariposa. Ballasch has been described by deputies as a U.S. Marine Corps veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. He also was wounded during the incident and is expected to recover.
He has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer.
Mirelez was shot at least once, suffering injuries to his face and torso, deputies have said.
The names of the other three deputies involved in the incident were not released Sunday.
Ballasch was the subject of an officer-safety bulletin given to the Merced Police Department a day before the shooting. Merced police did not broadcast the information with other agencies until after the shootout with Mariposa deputies.
The California Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the shooting. Mariposa deputies are also conducting an internal review of the shooting, a standard procedure in critical incidents.
The Mariposa Deputy Sheriff’s Association has established an account at West America Bank. Donations can be made to Acct. 0168484285 at any branch of West America Bank or mailed to P.O. Box 157, Mariposa 95338.
This story was originally published October 4, 2015 at 10:52 AM with the headline "Mariposa deputy injured in shootout identified."