ARIZONA CITY, Ariz. -- Pinal County sheriff's deputies spotted and pursued an Arizona City man who was involved in a shootout Monday, but they had to end the pursuit because of the unsafe manner in which he was driving.
According to the sheriff's office, Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Sandoval, 38, paid a visit to the Arizona City home of his wife and 12-year-old daughter Monday night.
Gonzalez-Sandoval no longer lives at the home and his wife has an order of protection against him.
The girl called 911 and said that her father and another man were attempting to get inside the home.
When deputies arrived at the residence, Gonzalez-Sandoval reportedly removed a handgun from his waist, pointed it at them and began to pull the trigger.
According to sheriff's spokesman Tim Gaffney, the two deputies feared for their safety and returned fire. Gonzalez-Sandoval fled the scene on foot.
Gaffney said Gonzalez-Sandoval, a Mexican citizen, has an extensive criminal history under seven different aliases. Five months ago, Immigration and Customs Enforcement tried to have him sent back to Mexico, but a judge ruled in his favor and canceled his deportation because he is a legal permanent resident.
"This foreign-born criminal was in a gunfight with two of my deputies and previously fled from us at speeds over 100 mph," Sheriff Paul Babeu said. "This dangerous criminal has an extensive rap sheet and should have been deported. Why are we allowing these violent non-citizen criminals sanctuary in America?"
Deputies located and attempted to stop Gonzalez-Sandoval in Arizona City Tuesday evening after he was spotted driving his 2003 Ford Mustang that is blue or teal in color. He fled from deputies who had to terminate the pursuit because Gonzalez-Sandoval was driving in an unsafe manner.
The vehicle is registered to Gonzalez-Sandoval and has an Arizona license plate of LMO-6651 on the rear bumper. The vehicle has 18- to 20-inch chrome rims with a spare tire on the right rear.
Gonzalez-Sandoval is described as a Hispanic male, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing a checkered button-up shirt, jeans and a white baseball hat.
Gaffney said Gonzalez-Sandoval has a handgun and should be considered armed, dangerous and desperate. Anyone with information on Gonzalez-Sandoval's whereabouts should call 911.
