For Immediate Release

Lieutenant Jim Byers

Road Rage Shooting

On April 18^th, 2016 at 3pm, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Central Dispatch received a 911 call from a man in the Mosquito area advising that his motorcycle tire had been shot by the driver of truck after a road rage incident.

Deputies and CHP Officers responded to the area and contacted the victim, who described a brief road rage incident between himself and the drive of a small truck, which escalated into the two stopping near the Mosquito Cut-Off Road.  According to the victim, the man got out of his truck with a firearm and pointed the weapon at the victim.  The man then shot at the victim’s motorcycle, striking the rear tire, and then threatening to shoot the victim.  The man then got into his truck and left.

Based on the information provided to the investigating Deputies, the suspect was located at his residence in Mosquito.  At the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, Deputies arrested 67 year old Eric Lance Cullis Jr for charges of Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Felony Criminal Threats, and Brandishing a Firearm.

The incident is still being investigated and anyone with any information is asked to call (530)621-6600.

 ERic Lance Cullis Jr, DOB 02/14/49

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and South Lake Tahoe Police Department will be hosting prescription drug disposal events open to El Dorado County residents.  Please see the attached flyer.

2016-04_DEA Drug Take Back_Flyer

For Immediate Release

Lieutenant Jim Byers

Road Rage Incident

On April 7^th, 2016 at 7:22 pm, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots and tires screeching in the Mar Val Market parking lot in Georgetown, and additional calls reporting a truck racing around the parking lot, possibly firing a gun.

As Deputies were responding to the area, a man reported a road rage incident and told dispatchers that he had been chased by two vehicles and possibly shot at.

When Deputies arrived at scene, they determined that multiple shots had been fired at the man, and through the course of their investigation, they able to identify 40 year old Joseph Ray Messer of Diamond Springs as one of the suspects.

On April 8^th, at 5:35 pm Messer was seen leaving a known residence he frequented in Diamond Springs in a truck matching the description of the one seen during the Mar Val Market incident.  Messer was stopped by Deputies and arrested without incident.

Messer was booked into the county jail on charges of armed robbery and has a parole hold.

Anyone with information regarding this incident can call (530)621-6600.

 Joseph Ray Messer, DOB 3/21/76