Men Suspected of Firing on Deputy Scheduled for Preliminary Hearing

A preliminary hearing was scheduled today for two men accused of opening fire on a San Diego police lieutenant during an attempted traffic stop in Poway.

Ramona resident Michael Eugene Rains, 28, and transient Daniel Patrick Schwartzel, 18, are each charged with felony assault with a firearm and felony shooting at an occupied vehicle in connection with the shooting.

The events that led to the shooting began shortly before 8 p.m. Nov. 16, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

The SDPD police lieutenant attempted to pull over the vehicle Schwartzel was driving in the vicinity of Espola and Poway roads because he suspected him of drunken driving, then heard what he thought was a gunshot shortly after turning on his patrol vehicle's emergency lights, sheriff's Sgt. Chad Boudreau said.

A few seconds later, the officer heard three more gunshots and saw a muzzle flash that appeared to have come from the passenger side of the vehicle, Boudreau said. The officer was not injured.

The officer then notified police officials, and deputies from the Poway Sheriff's Station were sent to assist him, according to the sergeant.

The suspects' vehicle was stopped near the intersection of Poway Road and Welton Lane when the deputies arrived and removed the two men from inside, Boudreau said. A handgun was found inside, and expended shell casings were located in the roadway, he said.

-- City News Service