Santa Ana Undercover Officer Shot in Face During Drug Bust

A Santa Ana undercover narcotics officer was recovering from a serious mouth injury Saturday after being shot in the face by a suspected drug dealer.

The officer, whose name was not released at his own request, was shot Friday afternoon as he and four other officers broke through the front door of the suspect’s house. The suspect, identified as David Gonzalez, 21, of Santa Ana, was later shot as he tried to escape through a back door.

Gonzalez was reportedly shot three times and was listed Saturday in serious but stable condition at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer and the sale of narcotics.

Bullet Lodged in Neck

The officer was reported in serious but stable condition in the Fountain Valley hospital’s trauma center. The bullet entered his mouth and remains lodged in his neck, a police spokesman said.

The gun battle occurred about 1:45 p.m. Friday, a short time after Santa Ana police narcotics officers reportedly bought some heroin from Gonzalez. After the purchase, officers obtained a search warrant for Gonzalez’s house on W. Posey Street, located in a Latino neighborhood.

Santa Ana Police Lt. Robert Chavez gave this account of what happened:

Officers Demand Entry

Five officers went to the front door of the house, and seven other officers guarded the back and the sides of the house. Two officers announced in Spanish and in English that the police were present and demanded entry.

When no one responded, the officer who was shot broke through with a hand-held battering ram. The suspect opened fire immediately. The other officers at the front door returned fire, and the suspect ran toward a back door.

He opened the door and, seeing other officers, opened fire again. He reportedly was struck in the arm, leg and hip.