Clifford Scott
Opening statements began Wednesday in the trial of San Diego resident Clifford Scott, whom prosecutors accuse of starting a shootout with a California Highway Patrol officer in Paso Robles in 2012. [Tribune]
On Oct. 27, 2012, a CHP officer pulled over Scott, 23, for speeding. During the questioning, Scott sped off and another CHP officer, Adrian Ayala, pursued him.
Scott crashed his car into a tree near Spring and 13th streets in Paso Robles. He then fled by foot and hid in a dumpster.
Ayala, 31, located Scott in the dumpster.
Then Scott rose out of the dumpster holding a 40-caliber semiautomatic handgun and started firing rounds at Ayala, according to Deputy District Attorney Eric Dobroth.A shootout ensued, and Ayala took three bullets before firing a shot that knocked down Scott, Dobroth said. The officer suffered several injuries during the gun battle.
“He was bleeding profusely,” Dobroth said.
Scott survived the shooting despite suffering numerous gunshot wounds, including one to his liver.
Prosecutors say Scott was a gang member carrying cocaine at the time of the incident. Scott is charged with attempted murder of a peace officer and several other offenses.
His attorney opted to wait to make his opening statement until later in the trial.
