El Dorado County authorities make arrest in attempted murder, kidnapping case

A man wanted by El Dorado County authorities in connection with a kidnapping and attempted murder was arrested Tuesday after deputies chased him for 23 minutes over 16 miles.
Dustin James Woodruff, born July 29, 1985, is suspected of shooting and beating Bryan Santana, 35, of Placerville on July 2, 2012, said El Dorado County Lt. Tim Becker in a news release.
In July, Marshall Hospital personnel reported Santana’s medical condition to the Sheriff’s Office when Santana showed up at the emergency room requesting treatment for a motorcycle accident. Hospital personnel noticed that the injuries were not consistent with a motorcycle accident and believed Santana had been shot. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office was notified and deputies contacted Santana at the hospital. He eventually admitted to being shot however at the time he did not know who shot him or how it occurred. Santana survived his injuries, the news release stated.

Further investigation was conducted and in August it was discovered that Santana had been shot and kidnapped by Woodruff. Deputies discovered that Woodruff was on probation and he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest regarding out of county charges, the news release stated. Woodruff violated his probation terms and avoided law enforcement contact. As the investigation continued deputies and detectives began to suspect Woodruff of multiple property crimes around the county.

Just after 2:30 p.m. deputies spotted Woodruff driving a Meeks Lumber pickup truck on Hwy E16. Deputies determined that the Meeks Lumber truck was stolen from the Meeks Lumber company in Amador County. An attempt was made to stop the vehicle but Woodruff ignored the attempts, according to the news release.
Eventually deputies utilized a spike strip to flatten the tires of the vehicle but Woodruff continued driving the vehicle with the damaged tires. After driving the vehicle over the spike strip Woodruff lost control of the vehicle a few miles down the road. The vehicle hit an embankment causing the truck to roll over. Woodruff attempted to run from the approaching deputies but was captured within a short distance.
Woodruff was arrested for multiple violations to include the original attempted murder, kidnapping and multiple property crimes.
Sheriff John D’Agostini is asking anyone with information regarding the kidnapping, shooting or any property crimes Woodruff may have been involved with, to please contact Detective Mike Lensing at (530) 642-4703.