Wanted man escapes Lake County capture in stolen car amid gunfire

Bail bonds agents fired guns several times at a fleeing suspect, who escaped them by stealing one of their vehicles, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.|
RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Bail bond agents’ attempted capture of a wanted man Saturday in Lake County failed after he jumped into an agent’s car and drove off amid gunfire from the bondsmen, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Lake County sheriff’s detectives now are looking for the man, identified as Gregory Crumpler, 40. They’re also investigating the legality of the gunfire, sheriff’s Lt. Corey Paulich said.

Crumpler had been arrested in Mendocino County on drug sales charges, and the bail bond agents sought him because he’d apparently failed to show up for a court appearance, skipping out on his bail obligations.

The agents with Greg Padilla Bail Bonds of Sacramento tracked Crumpler to the 17000 block of Morgan Valley Road, outside of Lower Lake. He ran as they tried to get him. Then he got into one of the agents’ cars and drove off with agents firing several times.

Deputies found the vehicle about 3 miles away on Oak Haven Road. Deputies, state parks employees and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office helped search for Crumpler but they couldn’t find him, officials said.

Detectives have taken over the investigation and are asking anyone who knows where Crumpler is to contact sheriff’s dispatchers at 707-263-2690.

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