A shoplifting suspect was shot at least three times by a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy Thursday evening, sheriff's officials said.
Santa Rosa police received a call at 5:38 p.m. from the security office at Santa Rosa Plaza, a shopping mall just off U.S. Highway 101.
Security personnel told police that a man shoplifted and when a security guard tried to stop the man he tried to stab the guard in the face with a knife.
The suspect left the mall and went north on Morgan Street, sheriff's officials said.
A deputy contacted a man who looked like the suspect at Ninth and Morgan streets, not far from the mall. Sheriff's officials said the deputy stopped his patrol car and the suspect walked by, disobeying the deputy's commands to stop.
The deputy shot the suspect with a Taser, which apparently had no effect him. The deputy tried to get in front of the man to stop him and the man went backwards and ran to the deputy's vehicle.
According to the sheriff's office, the suspect got in the driver's seat and an altercation began. Sheriff's officials said the suspect shut the door as he brandished a knife toward the deputy and the deputy tried to open the door.
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The deputy then shot the suspect. The man was treated at the scene and then taken to a hospital with significant wounds. Sheriff's officials said the wounds are reportedly not life-threatening.
