Kern County Deputies Involved in Shooting After U-Haul Chase

Suspect Micheal Kemmeter arrested after crash, standoff, and deputy-involved shooting on Highway 178

Apr. 15, 2026 at 9:21pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a handgun on a dark background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the weapon involved in the deputy-involved shooting.A dramatic chase and standoff with law enforcement on a rural California highway exposes the dangers of armed confrontations.Bakersfield Today

The Kern County Sheriff's Office released body camera and dash cam footage of a March 2026 incident where deputies were involved in a shooting with a suspect, 30-year-old Micheal Kemmeter, after a high-speed chase and crash on Highway 178 in Onyx, California. Kemmeter had previously been arrested in October 2025 for intentionally shooting at a woman with two children present, though no one was injured in that incident.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the dangers law enforcement face when pursuing suspects, especially those with a history of violence. The release of the footage aims to provide transparency around the use of force and the actions taken by deputies to resolve the situation safely.

The details

On March 13, 2026, deputies responded to a report of domestic violence in Weldon and pursued Kemmeter, who fled the scene in a U-Haul truck towing a trailer. A high-speed chase ensued, with Kemmeter driving on the wrong side of Highway 178 and crashing into oncoming traffic near Doyle Ranch Road in Onyx. After the crash, Kemmeter barricaded himself in the disabled vehicle and pointed a gun at deputies, leading to a deputy-involved shooting. Neither Kemmeter nor the deputies were injured. Kemmeter ultimately surrendered after negotiations and was arrested for multiple charges, including corporal injury of a spouse and evading police.

  • On March 13, 2026, at around 6 p.m., deputies responded to a report of domestic violence in Weldon.
  • The pursuit began after Kemmeter left the area and deputies believed he was headed east on Highway 178.
  • The crash occurred near Doyle Ranch Road in Onyx.
  • Following the crash, the deputy-involved shooting took place.
  • On April 13, 2026, the Kern County Sheriff's Office convened an Incident Review Board and determined the use of force was within policy.

The players

Micheal Kemmeter

A 30-year-old suspect who led deputies on a high-speed chase and was involved in a deputy-involved shooting after crashing his U-Haul truck. Kemmeter had previously been arrested in October 2025 for intentionally shooting at a woman with two children present.

Kern County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that responded to the initial domestic violence call, pursued Kemmeter, and was involved in the deputy-involved shooting incident.

California Highway Patrol (CHP)

The agency that took the lead in the pursuit of Kemmeter after he fled from Kern County deputies.

Deputies Justin Guzman, Austin McCullough, Dylan Chumley and Sergeant Ryan Pollack

The Kern County Sheriff's Office deputies and sergeant who were placed on routine critical incident leave pending the completion of the investigation into the use of force.

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What’s next

The Kern County District Attorney's Office will review the investigation into the deputy-involved shooting to determine if any criminal charges are warranted.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the risks law enforcement face when pursuing suspects with a history of violence, and the importance of thorough investigations into the use of deadly force to ensure transparency and accountability.