FLEEING CAR THIEVES INJURE TWO OFFICERS

By R. Craig
Visalia, Calif (July 10, 2009)- Two police officers part of a special task force called TRATT (Tulare County Reduce Auto Theft Task Force), were injured last Wednesday when they attempted to arrest two suspects in a stolen vehicle near Ben Maddox and Noble.
Clint Everette, 44, who is a transient of Tulare County and Stacy McKenzie, 31, of 2001 E. Cross St. Tulare, used a stolen vehicle to attack officers on foot, so they could flee the premises.  Luckily the officers only received minor injuries from the encounter. About six city blocks were cordoned off by police as they began their search for the suspects.
According to Sgt. Ernie Villa of the Visalia police department, they utilized “a helicopter, K-9 units, and officers that went door-to-door to find the suspects.” In the end a group of officers found the suspects in someone else’s backyard nearly an hour and forty five minutes later. The suspects were also apparently connected to vehicle burglaries in the Visalia area that occurred earlier in the day.
Everette has been charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, vehicle theft and violating parole. McKenzie has been charged with burglary, violating parole, identity theft and conspiracy to commit a crime. Both suspects are currently being held for court in Tulare County.