The Region - News from April 17, 1985

Two men reportedly shot at a California Highway Patrol officer during a routine traffic stop, sheriff’s deputies reported. Sgt. Dennis Burns of the Malibu sheriff’s substation said authorities had no idea what prompted the shooting. The officer, who was not hit, was identified as John Neilsen, who has been on the force six months, a CHP spokesman said. Two shots were fired from the passenger side of a dark-colored Jeep that had been stopped on northbound Las Virgenes Road at Tapia Park. The jeep sped away into the park. About 50 officers cordoned off the area until daylight, searching in vain with dogs and helicopters.