El Cajon

An off-duty El Cajon police officer shot a man who had allegedly stolen his Toyota pickup truck late Wednesday night and was trying to get away from him for the second time, police said Thursday.

Sgt. Greg Robinson was leaving a restaurant on North 2nd Street about 10 p.m. when he saw someone driving off with his pickup, according to police spokesman Rick Turvey.

Robinson tried to stop the truck but failed, and he and a friend went to the police station to report the theft. On leaving the station at 1:24 a.m., Robinson saw his pickup at 2nd Street and Madison Avenue and gave chase, Turvey said.

During the chase, the driver of the pickup turned off Naranca Avenue onto McClure Street, a dead-end street. Robinson got out of his car and identified himself as an officer, ordering the man to stop. Instead, the thief turned around and rammed Robinson’s car, then apparently tried to run him down on his way back up the street, police said.

Robinson fired into the car, hitting the driver in the face. He lost control, ran onto the curb and fled on foot down Naranca. Robinson caught up with the man and was struggling with him when on-duty police arrived and took him into custody, according to the police account.

Joseph Edward Martinez, 37, was listed in stable but serious condition Thursday at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Police said their investigation is continuing.