911 Call Leads To Attempted Murder Of Female Deputy
Traci Salmon, a 31-year-old, female Ventura County sheriff's deputy was violently attacked while responding to a Friday morning 911 hang-up call. According to authorities, the deputy was ambushed by 32-year-old Steven Atkinson when she approached the front door of a residence, reports KTLA.
In a violent struggle Atkinson grabbed Salmon's taser and tased her in the upper body, said Ventura Sheriff's Capt. Rick Barrios. Salmon was eventually able to fire her service weapon hitting Atkinson in the leg. The deputy managed to escape the residence and call for backup.
Atkinson barricaded himself inside the residence with a gun while sheriff's department SWAT Team, Air Unit, and Negotiations Unit responded on the scene with the California Highway Patrol, the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department and the Ventura Police Department.
Atkinson surrendered to police around 11:30 a.m.
Deputy Salmon -- who previously served in Iraq and has worked as a deputy sheriff for five years -- was treated at the Ventura County Medical Center and released. Another adult inside the residence was also hurt, but the extent of the injuries have not been released. Atkinson was treated for his injuries and released and booked into the Ventura County Jail for attempted murder of a peace officer and taking a peace officer's weapon. He is being held on $1 million bail.