Local News in Brief : Orange : Off-Duty L.A. Detective Wounded in Altercation

An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department detective was shot through the thigh with his own revolver in a scuffle with a knife-wielding suspect at a fast-food restaurant in Orange, authorities said Sunday.

John Forsman, 36, was listed in good condition at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, police said.

Alberto Martinez, 23, of Orange was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder a short time after the incident at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Officer Jack Rinallo, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department. Martinez was being held at the Orange city jail, Rinallo said.

A spokesman for the Orange Police Department referred all calls about the incident to Los Angeles police.

According to Rinallo, Forsman was sitting at a Carl’s Jr. restaurant in the 3500 block of East Chapman Avenue in Orange when he noticed that Martinez had become involved in “an altercation with the restaurant security guards.” Rinallo said he did not know the cause of the dispute.

Forsman had walked over to help the security guards when Martinez pulled out a 4-inch knife, Rinallo said. Forsman was backed out of the restaurant by the knife-wielding Martinez. When Forsman drew his service revolver in the parking lot, Martinez grabbed for the weapon.

“During the struggle, one round accidentally discharged, striking the detective in the right thigh,” Rinallo said. Martinez fled the area.

Orange police officers tracked Martinez to a residence in the 2900 block of East Maple Street, where he was arrested shortly before midnight Saturday, Rinallo said.

Forsman, an 8-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, is a detective assigned to the Hollenbeck station in Boyle Heights, Rinallo said.