A sheriff's spokeswoman says charred human remains have been found in the burned-out cabin where a fugitive former Los Angeles police officer was believed to be.

San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller says the remains were found late Tuesday after a shootout that killed one sheriff's deputy and injured another.

Authorities believe Christopher Dorner barricaded himself inside the cabin and a fire later ensued. A single gunshot was heard coming from within the cabin. Investigators will attempt to determine if the remains are Dorner's through forensic tests.

Thousands of officers had been on the hunt for the former navy reservist since police said he launched a campaign to exact revenge against the Los Angeles Police Department for his firing. Police say Dorner began his run on Feb. 6 after they connected the slayings of a former police captain's daughter and her fiance with an angry Facebook rant they said he posted. Threats against the LAPD led officials to assign officers to protect officers and their families.

Dorner's anger with the department dated back at least five years, when he was fired for filing a false report accusing his training officer of kicking a mentally ill suspect. Dorner, who is black, claimed in the rant that he was the subject of racism by the department and fired for doing the right thing. He said he would get even with those who wronged him as part of his plan to reclaim his good name.

``You're going to see what a whistleblower can do when you take everything from him especially his NAME!!!'' the rant said. ``You have awoken a sleeping giant.''

Police had been searching the snow-covered woods near Big Bear Lake, a resort town about 130 kilometres east of Los Angeles, after Dorner's truck was found late last week.

(The Associated Press)

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