Clovis officer who fired on suspects was shot in ’06

A Clovis police officer who was shot three years ago by suspects in an attempted bank robbery was the same officer who fired on two men during a vehicle pursuit last week after the driver tried to run him over.

An investigation by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office showed that the pursuit, which began at an apartment complex near Barstow and Minnewawa avenues in Clovis, reached speeds of 70 mph before concluding near Willow and Tyler avenues in an unincorporated part of Fresno.

Clovis police were sent to the apartment complex when residents reported being threatened with a gun, the sheriff’s report said.

The investigation found that police used a legal technique to bring the sport utility vehicle to a stop.

Lupe Nieto, 32, and Martin Espinoza, 18, both of Fresno, were arrested.

Nieto was the driver of the vehicle and tried to run over officer Drake Hodge, who fired at and hit both suspects, the sheriff’s report said.

Hodge also chased and captured Espinoza, the report said.

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office will determine whether the shootings were justified, said Fresno County Sheriff’s spokesman Chris Curtice.

Both men have been booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. Nieto also will be booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, terrorist threats and evading arrest. It’s unclear whether Nieto or Espinoza shot at officers.

Nieto is a wanted parolee and he and Espinoza are self-acknowledged gang members, the sheriff’s report said.

Bail for Nieto is $350,000, according to Fresno County Jail records. Espinoza’s bail is set at $260,000.

Nieto was arrested and sent to prison for a 1995 carjacking, state parole records show. He also served a prison term earlier this year on a drug-possession charge. He was placed on parole in August after serving about three months in state prison.

Espinoza, who turned 18 in June, has no record in the state prison system, officials said. Youth offender records are not made public.

The last time Clovis police officers were in an officer-involved shooting was on Aug. 29, 2006, during a high-speed chase. Two men who attempted to rob a bank at Shaw and Minnewawa avenues were chased through western Clovis and fired at police pursuing them.

During that chase, Hodge was struck by a bullet in his left index finger. The suspects were arrested and later sentenced to prison.

By Marc Benjamin / The Fresno Bee