COARSEGOLD, CA - A man who attempted to run down a Madera County Deputy Sheriff was found just hours later dead. Sheriff's spokesman Erica Stuart says the suspect's body was found in a wooded area of Coarsegold after apparently waiting to ambush deputies.

George Walter Rosenberg (41) of Stockton and Mariposa was wanted on a felony drug warrant for Methamphetamine when a deputy tried to speak with him at approximately 3pm Friday afternoon between Highway 41 and Road 400 in Coarsegold. The suspect was behind the wheel of his 1998 dark green Toyota Tacoma when he "barreled down" and attempted to run the deputy over. Stuart said, "The deputy shot at Rosenberg and then dove out of the way of the approaching truck at the last moment."

As a precaution, Coarsegold elementary school was put on lockdown as deputies and California Highway Patrol searched the mountain area for the suspect. Aerial support from CHP helicopter team H-40 was also used in the search.

A few hours later, Rosenberg's truck was found in a barn off of Wells Road in Coarsegold. His body was later found in an area that gave him an over-view of the barn with a loaded rifle in his lap. "He would have been able to see the deputies as they found his truck, and he appeared to be lying in wait", Stuart said.

Before deputies found the barn with the truck, Rosenberg had died from a gunshot wound.

The deputy, who's name we will not release, is a five year veteran of the Madera County Sheriff's Department and served five and a half years as a Madera County Correctional Officer prior to joining the force. He also spent a year and a half on the Madera County Gang Task Force.

The 33 year-old deputy graduated from Central High School and commutes to Oakhurst from his home in Fresno. He comes from a law enforcement family, his father was a police officer for the cities of Fresno, Huron and Delano. According to Madera County Under-Sheriff Michael Salvador, "He's a great guy and a hard worker."

The Madera County Sheriff's Department has confirmed that they believe Rosenberg succumbed to a gun shot injury caused by the deputy who fired at him when Rosenberg attempted to run the deputy over. The shooting is currently under investigation by the Madera County District Attorney's Office.