Photo: Ryan Pritel
SONOMA – On Mother’s Day (Sunday May 13) deputies approached the Jolly Washer Car Wash. Before long, there at the scene, a man shot a cop. 17 witnesses and three deputies gave statements after the incident. Also, police have body cam footage.
Ryan Pritel produced and fired a 9 mm handgun when the three deputies approached him. The suspect fired one shot and hit a deputy in his upper body. The injured deputy fired two shots in return. He has already been treated and released.
Pritel shot Deputy Matelli with a “snake shot” that contains multiple pellets. He sustained wounds to the chest, face, and arms.
Pritel’s gun
Both of the rounds that the deputy fired hit a pickup truck and, in contrast, did not injure anyone.
Pritel’s gun “had a high-capacity 20-round magazine that had full metal rounds and snake rounds.” He had a second magazine in his pocket with the same combination of ammunition.
Pritel worked at the Jolly Washer and lived nearby. His bail is set at $1 million. The Press Democrat reports that “he is being held in the jail’s mental health unit.”
In addition, they report that Pritel was “acting erratically and refusing to leave the premises when asked.”
The SRPD says, “Detectives are actively seeking assistance from anyone who may have witnessed or recorded any actions leading up to and after the deputies’ contact with Pritel. We also seek information regarding any prior contacts with Ryan Pritel in the weeks leading up to this incident. We encourage anyone who has information to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department at (707) 543-3590.”
