Shortly after midnight on 01/07/2015 a homicide occurred in El Dorado HIlls. Two adult female patrons of 36 Handles Irish Pub and Restaurant were confronted by an armed suspect in the parking lot of the establishment located at 1010 White Rock Road. The suspect demanded cash and keys from the two females. The female patrons ran from the suspect. One of the females was shot and killed by the suspect in front of 36 Handles Irish Pub and Restaurant. The suspect, after obtaining the victim’s car keys, stole her vehicle and drove northbound on Silva Valley Parkway. The suspect lost control of the victim’s vehicle on Silva Valley Parkway just north of Darwin Way. The vehicle rolled into a residential backyard and the suspect fled on foot. The suspect was contacted by EDSO and CHP within a short distance of the vehicle accident. The suspect is currently in custody and his injuries are not considered life threatening. A firearm has been recovered from the vehicle involved in the accident. EDSO Detectives are actively investigating the circumstances of this crime. The victim of the homicide will remain unnamed pending notification of next of kin.

On January 1, 2015, at approximately 11:30 am, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant in the 2200 block of Cold Springs Road in Placerville. A male living at the residence was wanted for charges related to felony domestic violence. When deputies attempted to contact him, he refused to exit the residence. At one point he came outside for a brief moment with a knife and said he was going to kill himself.

Due to the nature of the charges, the Crisis Response Unit was activated and the roadway closed. Announcements asking the subject to exit the residence were made over the next twelve hours without success. At the same time, Crisis Negotiators attempted to contact him on the telephone. A second phone was thrown into the residence so that he could communicate with negotiators.

After continuing to receive no response for several hours, SWAT deployed gas munitions hoping the male would comply. The subject still refused to answer the phone or make any contact with deputies. Fearing the subject still had the knife; SWAT did not make entry into the residence.

At approximately 11:00 pm, the Crisis Response Unit’s robot located the subject hiding in a bedroom closet. He was asked numerous times to exit the residence, but still he refused. At approximately 11:30 pm, Deputies noticed a small fire in the bedroom of where the subject was hiding. Deputies deployed numerous fire extinguishers at the same time as calling for fire personnel, who was already staged nearby.  The fire quickly spread through the bedroom as officers yelled for the subject to exit. Eventually, the subject walked outside and was immediately treated to by medical personnel on scene. Fire personnel were able to prevent any damage to surrounding properties; however, it appeared the residence sustained significant damage. The subject was airlifted to a hospital with unknown injuries. His identity is not being released at this time due to the ongoing investigation.

Sheriff D’Agostini appreciates the community’s patience during this incident and is very proud of the professionalism and patience of the men and women of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.

The family of the two elderly victims in an assault with a deadly weapon incident on Arlette Lane in Diamond Springs are optimistic in their parent’s recovery. According to Gerald “Jerry” Holderman Jr., his parents have been receiving excellent medical care. His mother, 80 year-old Faye Holderman is feeling better, sitting-up and talking with family. His father, 91 year-old Gerald Holderman made it out of surgery and is “looking better”. Jerry said he wasn’t overly surprised; his dad is a former US Marine who fought in WWII. He said his father flew off the USS Vella Gulf in combat as a gunner’s mate in the rear of a Douglas SBD Dive Bomber. At the end of the war in 1945, he was in the first wave providing air cover for General Douglas MacArthur in Tokyo Bay to accept Japan’s surrender. This week the couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

The Holderman family is very appreciative and impressed with the quality of care their parents have received. The family is very thankful for the outpouring of support and good wishes from friends and strangers alike. They are grateful to have so many people keeping them in their thoughts and prayers.

And again, please respect the family’s request for privacy.

Lt. Tom Murdoch