On the evening of July 2, 2016, Lancaster Sheriff’s Station deputies were dispatched to the intersection of 15th Street East and Avenue K in the city of Lancaster, in response to a traffic collision where injuries were thought to be life threatening. Upon their arrival, Deputies John Fink and Darrin Van Arsdale realized a male adult and his 8-year-old daughter had been struck by a vehicle while riding the father’s motorcycle. The driver of the vehicle had fled the scene, leaving the two injured victims laying in the middle of the busy roadway.

When the deputies arrived at the scene of the traffic collision, one of the deputies, Deputy Van Arsdale, immediately began assessing the victims and found the father was suffering from a severe and potentially life threatening injury to his leg. Believing the father might be in danger of losing his life, Deputy Vans Arsdale sprinted to his patrol vehicle and retrieved a tourniquet. He dashed backed to the victim and gave the tourniquet to Deputy Fink, who applied the device to the father’s lower limb in order to preserve his life.

Once they had stabilized the father, Deputies Fink and Van Arsdale turned their attention to the little girl who had sustained numerous serious but non-life threatening injuries as a result of her fall from the motorcycle. Deputy Van Arsdale treated the young girl for her injuries and continued to comfort her until the arrival of Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Engine 135 personnel arrived at the scene of the hit-and-run and took over medical care of both injured victims. The father and daughter were airlifted to a local hospital. Their current medical condition is unknown at this time.

According to Los Angeles County Fire personnel, the quick actions of Deputies Fink and Van Arsdale in applying the tourniquet to the father saved his life. Without the deputies’ quick actions, the father would have surely expired before the arrival of Los Angeles County Fire personnel.

While deputies continued to respond to the scene of the hit-and-run, a witness called 9-1-1, stayed on the phone with Lancaster Station dispatchers and provided enough information which led deputies to the suspect’s, 28-year-old Joshua Hall, location. Moments later, Mr. Hall was located and detained by Deputy Elizabeth Schneider. Mr. Hall emerged from his car and began threatening the deputy, at which point she requested additional deputies to respond to her location. It became apparent to Deputy Schneider, Mr. Hall was extremely intoxicated. He repeatedly yelled at Deputy Schneider in an attempt to provoke her. Once other deputies arrived, Mr. Hall was safely taken into custody.

Suspect Hall was arrested for felony Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.