Garden Grove : Police Say Burglary Suspect Fought Officers

An Anaheim man was arrested early Sunday for allegedly assaulting two Garden Grove police officers who tried to take him into custody on suspicion of burglarizing a church, authorities said.

Fidel Carlos Del Reao, 25, was booked on suspicion of felony assault against a police officer, burglary and violation of parole, Garden Grove Police Lt. Chuck Gibbs said. Del Reao was being held without bail at the Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.

Gibbs said the incident began when officers responded at 12:12 a.m. Sunday to a caretaker’s report of a burglary in progress at the Friend’s Church in the 12200 block of Magnolia Street.

When officers arrived, they found $18,000 worth of sound equipment “all stacked up and ready to go” outside the church and Del Reao inside, he said.

Officers Dianna Price and Daniel Clark tried to take Del Reao into custody, but Gibbs said the suspect became “uncooperative and combative,” biting Clark on the left hand and kicking Price in the right leg.

Price’s police dog, Xantos, one of three used by the Garden Grove department, clamped his jaws onDel Reao’s right leg.

Gibbs said Del Reao refused treatment before being taken to jail. Officer Clark was treated at the Medical Center of Garden Grove for a bite on his left hand and released. Price also refused treatment for her bruised leg.