Three suspects were in custody early today and another was being hunted in the fatal shooting of a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy and the wounding of another.

James Leroy Noble, 23 was arrested in his apartment at 1449 E. 115th St. and jailed in the Lynwood Sheriff’s Station in connection with the of Dep. George Barthel, 32 and the wounding of Dep. James Hollingsworth, 26, late Thursday.

Deputies later arrested Clarence Robinson, 21 on suspicion of murder after he surrenddered to officers at the Los Angeles Police Department’s 77th division. The Third suspect, Gary M. Huybbard, 20 was booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance (drugs) after he was arrested near the shooting scene.

Investigators said another 21-year old man surrendered at the Lynwood Sheriff’s station late Thursday night but he was released after questioning.

Sheriff’s investigators said uniformed deputies, both wearing flack vests, were shot down as they approached a group of five men in the Nickerson Housing Project.

As the deputies neared the group, investigators said, they saw one man toss something into a nearby clump of bushes.

Sheriff’s Lt. Charles Elliott said Hollingsworth, told investigators he was shot while picking up one of two vials of PCP that had been thrown away by one of the five men.

Hollingsworth was wounded in the face and side by fragments from one of the first shots fired. As he reached for his service revolver, Hollingsworth told investigators, he heard a second shot and saw Barthel bleeding.

The wounded deputy said he heard three more shots as he tried to shield Barthel with his body while retreating to the patrol car. Neither deputy managed to return the fire as the suspects ran off in several directions, Elliott said.

Barthel was struck in the face and side areas not protected by the flak vests worn by deputies, and investigator said.

Both deputies were taken to St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood where Barthel died in surgery shortly7 before 8 P.M. Hollingsworth was reported in good condition today following emergency treatment.

The two deputies were assigned to the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, a unit detailed to combat street crimes such as assaults, muggings, purse snatchings and similar offenses.

Patrolman Michael T. Anaya was shot and killed on March 21, after a man high on PCP gained control of his weapon. Anaya had responded to a call of a man attacking his family with a knife.

During a struggle the suspect gained control of Anaya’s weapon and shot him. He then shot and killed himself.

Anaya was paralyzed from the neck down until he succumbed to his injuries three weeks later.

Anaya had been with the San Diego Police Department for nine months.

His wife survived him.

Officers Roy P. Blecher and William M. Freeman were partners, working out of the Woodland Area Office, when they were gunned down along Interstate 80 near the Yolo Causeway in West Sacramento. Investigators found signs of a struggle. Blecher was handcuffed and shot in the back of the head and Freeman had been overpowered, shot and killed. Their last radio contact was at 3:12 a.m. when they stopped a suspect for a routine traffic violation. The killer was captured, tried and convicted of the murders and is currently serving a life sentence. Officer Blecher, 50, was a 21-year CHP veteran and Officer Freeman, 32, was a 12-year Patrol veteran.

Officers Roy P. Blecher and William M. Freeman were partners, working out of the Woodland Area Office, when they were gunned down along Interstate 80 near the Yolo Causeway in West Sacramento. Investigators found signs of a struggle. Blecher was handcuffed and shot in the back of the head and Freeman had been overpowered, shot and killed. Their last radio contact was at 3:12 a.m. when they stopped a suspect for a routine traffic violation. The killer was captured, tried and convicted of the murders and is currently serving a life sentence. Officer Blecher, 50, was a 21-year CHP veteran and Officer Freeman, 32, was a 12-year Patrol veteran.

Richard T. Steed, a thirty-one year old San Clemente Police Department Officer was killed while responding to a medical aid call on November 29, 1978. He was shot by the person he had been led to believe needed medical assistance.

Patrolman Archie C. Buggs was shot and killed on Nov. 4, after he made a traffic stop on two gang members. A fellow officer located Buggs laying in the street with his ticket book nearby.

Two suspects were arrested and subsequently sentenced to life.

Buggs had been with the San Diego Police Department for four years.

His mother and siblings survived him.

Officers Gayle W. Wood and James F. McCabe were on air-traffic patrol, making their last run before quitting at dusk when their CHP helicopter crashed and burned near Castaic Lake on Interstate 5. The helicopter struck a power line support that apparently was not visible in the approaching darkness. Officer Wood, the 41-year-old pilot, was a 10-year veteran of the Patrol and had been a CHP pilot for five years. Officer McCabe, the 34-year-old observer, had been a member of the Patrol for seven years and a helicopter observer for six months.

Officers Gayle W. Wood and James F. McCabe were on air-traffic patrol, making their last run before quitting at dusk when their CHP helicopter crashed and burned near Castaic Lake on Interstate 5. The helicopter struck a power line support that apparently was not visible in the approaching darkness. Officer Wood, the 41-year-old pilot, was a 10-year veteran of the Patrol and had been a CHP pilot for five years. Officer McCabe, the 34-year-old observer, had been a member of the Patrol for seven years and a helicopter observer for six months.

On Monday, August 7, 1978, Sergeant Darlon “Dee” Dowell became the first Ventura police officer killed in the line of duty.

On August 6, four men tried to rob a businessman making a night deposit at the Bank of America on Victoria Avenue. The robbery was interrupted and the four suspects fled; two were apprehended immediately but Robert K. Lee, 22, and Keith Kuhne, 20, escaped.

The next day a team of seven Ventura police officers served arrest and search warrants on the two outstanding suspects. Sergeant Dowell, Detective Don Bales, Detective Carl Handy, and Officer Gary McCaskill approached the front door of the suspects’ house at 154 N. Olive while Sergeant Art “A. J.” Farrar, Detective John Leach, and Officer Don Arth set up a perimeter around the residence. Officers entered the home and were detaining Kuhne in the living room when Lee fired a shotgun from a darkened hallway, fatally wounding Sergeant Dowell. Lee then ran through the house, crashed through a rear window, and was shot and killed by pursuing officers.

At the time of his death, Sergeant Dowell, 32, was a nine-year veteran of the Ventura Police Department. We will remember him as a dedicated police officer, devoted husband, and loving father to his two young children.

The City of San Buenaventura named Dowell Drive, the location of police headquarters, in Dee’s honor in 1979.

Officer Nicholas Paul Cecchetti was killed with a single bullet to his side which penetrated his heart killing him almost immediately while serving a narcotics search warrant August 3, 1978. The murderer was arrested shortly thereafter and was charged with first-degree murder. A change of venue was granted and the trial was held in Fresno County where the murderer was convicted and sentenced to life without parole.

Officer Cecchetti left behind his wife Cathy, sons Nicholas Jr. and Brandon and also his brother Michael and sister Julianne along with his parents, Julio and Meredyth Cecchetti.

His funeral was held at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton and was attended by over 1,200 mourners, which included police officers from all across the nation and state.

Officer Checchetti was born and raised in Stockton. He graduated from Lincoln High School, San Joaquin Delta College and late California State University Sacramento with a degree in Public Administration.

The family feels a sense of peace knowing his name rests alongside other officers from California who had fallen since statehood was granted.