In August, police in Modesto, California conducted a search of a home follow a high-speed pursuit. During that search, an occupant ambushed officers, leaving one critically wounded. Bodycam footage from the incident has been released, showing a very dramatic gun battle between police and felon named Jesse James.
Incredibly, despite dozens of rounds fired, the suspect escaped with only minor injuries. The wounded officer, however, has lost part of his right leg.
It all started with a high speed chase in Modesto. From Crime Voice . . .
Modesto police have announced the arrest of 42-year-old Jesse James Brooks, who is accused of three counts of attempted murder on a peace officer, among other charges.
In the early morning hours of August 15, an officer attempted a traffic stop on a motorcyclist driving recklessly in the area of West Orangeburg Avenue and Enslen Avenue but, instead, was led on a pursuit to a residence on the 3100 block of East Orangeburg Avenue. Officers descended on the house, at which point the suspect came outside and surrendered without further incident.
Officers later obtained a search warrant for the residence and, upon their arrival to conduct the search, an unknown man — later identified as Brooks — reportedly began shooting at them, striking one officer. Officers returned fire and injured Brooks. The wounded officer was hospitalized and, as of August 15, remained in critical but stable condition.
According to police, a felon named Jesse James Brooks shot officer Michael “Mikey” Rokaitis.
Near panic ensued as police fired back after Officer Rokaitis took two rounds. His body armor absorbed one round. The other hit below the vest and severed the right internal iliac artery that feeds the femoral artery, among others. His fellow officers dragged him out and wisely got him to the hospital most ricky-tick.
Amazingly, with all of the return gunfire from police, the suspect suffered only superficial gunshot wounds. He was able to hold his hands up, stand, and walk out.
Here’s the video… Fair warning, it is NSFW (language, graphic violence).
Police arrested four occupants on drug and weapons charges and a fifth is wanted.
Meanwhile, Officer Rokaitis has a long road ahead of him. From Officer.com:
Modesto police Officer Michael “Mikey” Rokaitis must have at least part of his right leg amputated as a result of the gunshot wound he suffered earlier this month.
“(Doctors) did everything they could to save it and waited as long as they could, but it’s time,” Rokaitis’ wife, Megan, posted on Facebook. “We just want him awake and home at this point.”
The Modesto Police Department in a Facebook post Monday said Officer Rokaitis already had undergone six surgeries since being shot Aug. 14 and has more ahead of him.
“We are hoping that they will be able to amputate below the knee, as that will be the easier route to recovery and mobility in the future, but they won’t know until they get in there whether it will happen below or above the knee,” Megan Rokaitis wrote.
https://www.facebook.com/modestopolice/posts/10165512719715043
Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery for Officer Rokaitis. We wish him well and hope he is able to someday return to a career of service of the citizens of Modesto.
