Sonora PD press release re:subject attacks officer

21 March 2012, at approx. 1:03 pm, the Sonora Police Department received a report of a male subject dressed in black with a white cowboy hat yelling at passing vehicles. An Officer responded and contacted the subject on Highway 49, across from Vic’s Towing.
When the Officer exited his vehicle, the subject immediately stated telling the Officer that he was going to kill him. The subject then charged the Officer for no apparent reason. The Officer deployed an electronic control device, but the device had little impact on the subject. However, it did stop the subject’s advancement towards the officer.

The Officer called for assistance on his portable radio. After calling for assistance the subject ripped the Officer’s radio off the Officer’s belt and threw it approx 30 feet away. The subject then made a statement to the Officer, now who are you going to call. The subject then charged the Officer a second time. This time the subject reached the Officer and started punching the Officer.
The Officer was able to push the subject off of him and deployed his service weapon. At this point an Officer from the California Highway Patrol arrived. Shortly after the second Officers arrival the subject started complying with verbal commands from both of the Officers and he was taken into custody without any further incident.
The subject was identified as Kevin Hepstall, 43 of Columbia. Hepstall is currently on felony probation for assaulting a Tuolumne County Deputy Sheriff in 2009. Hepstall was also arrested in 2008 for assaulting another Officer.
Hepstall was transported to the Tuolumne County Jail and booked for felony assault on a Police Officer; felony violation of probation; felony threats; and felony theft. The Officer sustained minor injuries from the attack and refused medical treatment.