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Kern County Deputy-Involved Shooting Follows Domestic Violence Report, Pursuit
ANTHONY SITE PHOTO
By Anthony W. Haddad
Published 3 days ago on
April 15, 2026
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A 30-year-old man was arrested following a domestic violence report, a multi-agency pursuit, and an officer-involved shooting in Kern County, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded March 13 at about 6 p.m. to a report of domestic violence in the 16000 block of Highway 178 in Weldon. After the suspect fled, deputies believed he was traveling east and requested assistance from Ridgecrest-area deputies to watch along Highway 178 and Highway 14.

Deputies later located the suspect, identified as Micheal Kemmeter, 30, parked in a dirt lot. When they attempted to detain him, he fled westbound on Highway 178, prompting a pursuit.

The California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit, during which Kemmeter collided with another vehicle west of Doyle Ranch Road in Onyx. After the crash, he barricaded himself inside his disabled vehicle.

Deputies issued multiple commands for him to exit. Authorities said Kemmeter pointed a gun at deputies, and an officer-involved shooting occurred. No deputies or officers and no suspect were injured in the shooting.

Kemmeter later surrendered after verbal commands and phone negotiations. He was arrested on suspicion of corporal injury of a spouse, obstructing or resisting an officer with force, hit-and-run resulting in property damage, and evading by driving the wrong way.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office said an Incident Review Board later determined the use of force was within policy on Monday.

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Anthony W. Haddad,
Multimedia Journalist
Anthony W. Haddad, who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with his undergraduate degree and attended Fresno State for a MBA, is the Swiss Army knife of GV Wire. He writes stories, manages social media, and represents the organization on the ground.

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