Crime & Safety

Sheriff Sniff Recalls Ambushed Deputies Haugen and Lehmann

The Sheriff's Department has released a statement about the ambush killings of Deputy Mike Haugen and Deputy James Lehmann in 1997 in the San Gorgonio Pass.

The man convicted of their murders, Timothy Russell, killed himself last week at San Quentin State Prison, according to the state Department of Corrections.

Current Sheriff Stan Sniff was captain of the sheriff's Banning Station, now known as the Cabazon Station. Here is the full statement released Oct. 7 by the Sheriff's Department:

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department was notified by the California Attorney General's Office of the death of Timothy Russell on October 5, 2013. Russell was sentenced to death for the ambush murders of Deputy Mike Haugen and Deputy James Lehmann. The California Attorney General's Victim Services Unit notified Sheriff Sniff to allow him the time to personally notify the families of Deputy Haugen and Deputy Lehmann.

At the time of their deaths, Sheriff Sniff was the Captain of the Banning Sheriff's Station, now known as the Cabazon Station and delivered the eulogies at both funerals.

Sheriff Sniff has maintained contact with both families over the years.

Deputy
Michael P. Haugen

Deputy 
James Lehmann, Jr.

On Sunday, January 5, 1997, during the early morning hours, Deputy Michael Haugen, 33 years old and his partner, Deputy James Lehmann, Jr., 41 years old, answered their last radio call. They were dispatched to a domestic violence call in the 13000 block of Chaparral in the Whitewater area of unincorporated Riverside County.

As Deputies Haugen and Lehmann responded to the call, dispatch advised that the victim, Russell's estranged wife, had fled the residence leaving behind their two young children following a domestic incident. The victim was able call 911 from a neighbor's residence. She said Russell had threatened to kill her after he pulled the phone from the wall, in an attempt to prevent her from calling 911. She advised dispatch Russell was under the influence and had access to a semi-automatic rifle.

They arrived and developed a plan on how to approach to the residence. Dispatch then advised the victim had heard additional gun shots and Russell yelling in front of the neighbor's home. She said their two young children were still inside their residence. Due to this information, Deputies Haugen and Lehmann approached the residence on foot. As they walked in the darkness towards the mobile home, they were gunned down without warning by Russell, who was lying in wait. Both Deputy Haugen and Deputy Lehmann were killed.

Additional responding deputies arrived moments later and located the downed deputies. After several hours, with the assistance of other responding law enforcement agencies and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Emergency Services Team, now known as SWAT, Russell was taken into custody without incident.

Russell was convicted of two counts of murder of peace officers Deputy Michael Haugen and Deputy James Lehmann on January 8, 1999, and was sentenced to death.

Deputy Haugen joined the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department on October 17, 1991, after serving as a peace officer with the Hermosa Beach Police Department and Hawthorne Police Department. Deputy Haugen's initial assignment with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department was in Corrections at the Robert Presley Detention Center. He transferred to the Banning Sheriff's Station on January 4, 1996. Deputy Haugen is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

Deputy Lehmann joined the Riverside County Sheriff's Department on March 4, 1993, after serving as a State Park Ranger with the California Department of Parks and Recreation in Lake Elsinore. Deputy Lehmann was initially assigned to the Robert Presley Detention Center before being assigned to the Banning Sheriff's Station on March 14, 1996. Deputy Lehmann is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Deputies Haugen and Lehmann have been honored during several ceremonies. On May 15, 1997, a public unveiling of a Bronze Memorial Marker honoring Deputies Haugen and Lehmann was held at the Banning Sheriff's Station.  In 1998, the names of Deputies Haugen and Lehmann were added to the Safe in His Arms statue in downtown Riverside.

In November 2005, Verbenia Avenue in the Whitewater area of unincorporated Riverside County was renamed Haugen-Lehmann Way in honor of the sacrifice made by Deputies Haugen and Lehmann.

Additionally, both deputies were posthumously awarded the Riverside County Sheriff's Department’s highest award, the Medal of Valor and their names were added to the Peace Officers Memorial in Sacramento and Washington DC.

During Deputy Haugen's eulogy Sheriff Sniff said, "a domestic violence call is probably the most dangerous call that a deputy sheriff can go on."

"You do not know what you are facing. These deputies took every precaution, but there's only so much you can do to defend yourself against somebody that's out to ambush you."

"Even in the Face of mortal danger, to the end, they remained together.  They were selfless, Michael and Jim were truly great men."

For the Banning-Beaumont Patch report on Russell's death see

Haugen, Lehmann Killer Commits Suicide on Death Row


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