Officer Earl Harwood Scott

Earl Harwood Scott

Officer Earl Scott was shot and killed while making a traffic stop Northbound Highway 99 south of Hammett Road in Salida at approximately 4:30 AM.

Officer Scott stopped a vehicle that he had observed speeding on northbound Highway 99. Officer Scott approached the vehicle and obtained the registration card from the driver. As Officer Scott walked back to his patrol car the suspect opened fire, fatally shooting him in the head.

A passing motorist, who was also heading north, saw the officer falling to the ground and the suspect's car speeding away. The witness exited the freeway and turned around, returning to the scene where he called authorities on a cell phone. When backup officers arrived they were able to identify the suspect's car by the registration that was still in Officer Scott's hand.

The officers were able to find the suspect by identifying the car. He was arrested and charged with murder, although he claimed that his car was stolen and he hadn't committed the crime. The suspect had an extensive criminal record, including arrests for robbery and assaulting a police officer. In August 2010 he plead guilty to Officer Scott's murder and was convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus three years without the possibility of parole; he cannot appeal this conviction as part of the plea agreement.

Officer Scott had served with the California Highway Patrol for five years. He is survived by his father, stepmother, and sister. His father and two uncles retired as sergeants from the California Highway Patrol. One of Officer Scott's cousins currently serves as a sergeant with the California Highway Patrol.