Aug. 04--Investigators on Monday released the first sketch of a man believed to have killed a dentist before opening fire at two Kern County sheriff's deputies, spawning an intense manhunt in a rugged, remote community in Central California.
The bespectacled man -- with military-style clothing, a corduroy hat and sun-weathered skin -- is allegedly connected to a four-day crime rampage that started Tuesday with a kidnapping near Twin Oaks, 20 miles east of Bakersfield. It continued Thursday with the fatal shooting of a man, and intensified Saturday with the non-fatal shooting of two deputies.
"This is an individual we consider armed and extremely dangerous," sheriff's spokesman Ray Pruitt said. "This is a person suspected of several violent crimes. He has shown he is not hesitant to engage law enforcement."
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Along with the series of crimes committed last week, the unidentified man is believed to have broken into several trailers, vacant cabins and vacation homes, Pruitt said. Authorities believe the man has stolen numerous handguns throughout the crime rampage.
Because the man's actions are unpredictable, Kern County sheriff's officials have asked residents in Kelso Valley, Caliente, Twin Oaks and Jawbone Canyon to remain indoors, lock their doors and call authorities if they observe any suspicious activity.
"This is an individual that has shown he is violent," Pruitt said.
Residents were advised to lock their doors as a manhunt continued Monday. Piute Mountain Elementary, South Fork Elementary and South Fork Middle School were also closed because of the extensive search.
SWAT members from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and a helicopter from the Orange County's Sheriff's Department have been deployed to aid Kern County deputies.
Deputies in off-road vehicles and patrol cars are searching outbuildings and homes in the rural area for the gunman.
But the search has been challenging because the terrain is rugged, Pruitt said. Deputies, however, are "not giving up" until the gunman is in custody, he said.
Authorities believe the man's criminal activities began Tuesday, when he held a 19-year-old man and two 20-year-old men captive inside a cabin near Twin Oaks. One of the victims owned the cabin, where authorities believe the gunman had been squatting.
The men arrived there about 7 p.m. to find the gunman, who approached them and asked why they were on his property. When they told him the property didn't belong to him, he brandished a handgun, ordered them inside the cabin and threatened to kill them, Pruitt said.
After more than an hour, the man stepped outside and the three men escaped. As they ran away, the father of one of the men was driving in the area and picked them up. They later reported the incident to deputies, who searched the area. But deputies couldn't find the suspect, who had stolen the men's off-road vehicle and fled.
The next day, authorities found the men's vehicle and guns about two miles away from the cabin.
Then on Thursday, deputies received a report of a Tehachapi man found fatally shot inside his cabin in the 8600 block of Jawbone Canyon Road in Weldon, about 10 miles east of Twin Oaks.
David Louis Markiewitz's family had not heard from him, so they drove to the cabin and found him shot to death. The retired dentist was 64.
Authorities believed the man's death was connected to the kidnapping because of the crimes' close proximity. SWAT deputies searched the area Friday, but came up empty.
The manhunt continued Saturday as SWAT deputies tracked the man, who is believed to be on foot.
At 8:30 p.m., the gunman fired at SWAT deputies on a remote property near Kelso Valley Road and Jawbone Canyon Road, Pruitt said. Two deputies -- -- Michael Booker and Jose Perez -- were struck by bullets. Booker was shot in both arms and Perez was grazed by a bullet.
SWAT deputies returned fire, but it was unclear if the man was struck, Pruitt said.
When deputies searched a trailer on the property, they discovered the man escaped sometime after the gunfire exchange.
Deputies believe the man is hiding within a five-square-mile area.
He was described as white, 30 to 35 years old, 5-feet-8 and 160 pounds with long, brown hair, blue eyes and weathered skin. He is believed to be a transient. He was "dirty in appearance" and wore a green bandanna, a brown corduroy hat and an olive-colored T-shirt and pants.
Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report.
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UPDATE
5:22 p.m.: This story has been updated with additional details on the identity of the suspected gunman.
12:11 p.m.: This story has been updated with the name of David Louis Markiewitz.
This story was originally published at 11:37 a.m.
