Attempted cop killer sentenced to life

Nicholas Chernobieff was sentenced to life in prison last week in connection with a vehicular assault on a Roseville police officer March 11, 2004. The 58-year-old North Highlands resident was found guilty July 20 of attempted murder of a peace officer, conspiracy, burglary, illegal possession of a blank check and possession and transportation of meth-amphetamine.Judge John Cosgrove handed down the sentence Aug. 29 in Placer County Superior Court. Chernobieff will be eligible for parole in 16 years.The incident at the Target Greatland in Roseville left Det. Mike Easter with serious injuries that could have been far worse.Officers attempted to stop Chernobieff after he left the store after security officials and several officers noted Chernobieff and two associates apparently "receipt shopping," or trying to match store items with receipts found in the parking lot. Officers also believed the trio were attempting to purchase pseudoephedrine, which is used to make methamphetamine. A three-man team of Roseville Police split up to observe the trio, with Sgt. Mike Sherlock observing from the parking lot with Det. Scott Goucher and Easter inside the store.Chernobieff, along with girlfriend Ali Beebout, 19, and another man, spent approximately an hour inside the store, filling a cart with an estimated $800 in merchandise. Beebout was spotted shoplifting a bra. Chernobieff exited the store, and in the ensuing confrontation, refused to stop when asked to do so by the officers. "He peeled out. Detective Easter had his badge and gun out and was attempting to stop him, and he just ran him down," Sherlock recalled.Chernobieff accelerated his Saturn sedan directly at Easter, hitting him at approximately 30 mph. Police investigators later determined he was accelerating at the time of impact. Easter suffered a torn ligament in his right knee, and required surgery on his left knee to remove floating cartilage dislodged from the impact. He said he was on light duty for 9 weeks after the assault, and has since made a full recovery."I thought I was going to get out of the way, then at the last minute he swerved and hit me," Easter said. A citizen tipped off police and Chernobieff was found on the 900 block of Atlantic St., with Easter's handcuffs hanging from his antenna.A search of the vehicle found methamphetamine, stolen checks, and a scale, Sherlock said. Police took Beebout into custody outside the Target Greatland and later arrested Patterson, who left the store before the hit-and-run occurred. In an earlier case, Beebout pled guilty to commercial burglary as well as possession of a blank check with intent to defraud. She received an eight-month sentence in Placer County jail. Jason Probst can be reached at jasonp@goldcountrymedia.com