Deputy Edward Tucker was arrested on Tuesday, days after bailing out for an arrest on Saturday.
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Inside his vehicle on Saturday, deputies found five handguns, one of which was inoperable, along with two shotguns and an assault rifle, Pruitt said.
The deputies were on a computer on the trunk of a nearby vehicle, apparently typing reports while they waited for the jail to be locked down – because Tucker is a deputy - when he escaped.
Edward Tucker, 44, was booked into the Kern County Jail on charges of brandishing a firearm, being under the influence of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence and felony willful cruelty to a child.
A manhunt for Tucker followed.
He was found with drugs, guns and bomb-making materials Tuesday night, according to the sheriff’s office.
Tucker is believed to have been under the influence of methamphetamine on both occasions.
Youngblood wouldn’t answer why Tucker was being paid while on leave, telling reporters to review California law. Was our guy ready for a break? “So it’s apparent that he has access to firearms”, Pruitt said. While he was in custody, the police officers on the scene turned their backs and Tucker got away.
In the surveillance video you can see Tucker after slipping out of those handcuffs. From there it was all about playing it cool.
“This is not common by any stretch of the imagination”, Youngblood said.
“It’s not uncommon for us to double handcuff; it’s not uncommon for us to roll a window down so that a suspect can get air, but it is uncommon to not pay attention to that suspect”, said Sheriff Donny Youngblood.
After walking away from the sheriff’s cruiser, Tucker ran up the parking ramp and took off.
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Earlier that day, deputies received a request to check on Tucker’s welfare. He was eventually found in the garage of an acquaintance in Oildale, outside of Bakersfield.
