Feds offer $5,000 reward as search continues for North Sacramento man who shot at police

As the search for an armed suspect who fired shots at police in North Sacramento stretches into its second week, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives has offered $5,000 for information leading to Albert Wheeler’s arrest.

The 50-year-old man, who lived in the Hagginwood neighborhood of the city, is currently at large after shooting at a Sacramento Police sergeant from his vehicle late Tuesday evening after a disturbance call.

Police said the incident started when Wheeler was seen waving a handgun and threatening suicide outside of a home on the 1200 block of Rivera Drive. Officers identified Wheeler driving a truck in the area and, when they attempted to pull him over, Wheeler led officers on a high-speed chase.

While officers pursued Wheeler, a police sergeant returned to the home of the 911 caller. Wheeler was returning to the same home, and the sergeant told the caller to shelter inside for their safety. When Wheeler arrived, he fired multiple shots at the sergeant’s patrol vehicle, striking it twice, a news release said. A photo of the damaged vehicle showed that the shots had shattered the glass of a rear window.

No one was injured. Wheeler then fled in his truck; his vehicle was recovered later in Arden Arcade, police said.

The California Highway Patrol issued a Blue Alert for Wheeler a week ago. Authorities describe him as 5-foot-8, 180 pounds with brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black Nike shoes, black basketball shorts and a gray tank top.

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is currently working with Sacramento police and the CHP to detain Wheeler, police said. ATF is urging anyone with information regarding Wheeler’s whereabouts to contact the bureau.

This story was originally published August 11, 2020 at 12:25 PM.