Santa Ana : Man Shot After Police Say He Pulled a Gun

Police shot and wounded a Santa Ana man after he allegedly pulled a gun on two officers who were arresting him, authorities said Friday.

Santa Ana police spokeswoman Maureen Thomas said the officers spotted Vincent L. Camacho, 25, putting stereo equipment into the back of a van about 9:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Best Inn on North Harbor Boulevard.

The officers saw additional electronic equipment--which they suspected had been stolen--in the van and a clear plastic baggie with a “white powdery substance,” Thomas said.

“An officer told him he was under arrest and as they were handcuffing him, he dropped his right hand to his waist and pointed a .38 automatic handgun at the officer,” she said.

“At that time, both officers fired their weapons, striking Camacho in both legs,” she said, adding that two or three shots were fired.

Camacho was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer and taken to UCI Medical Center, where he was reported in fair condition.

Both officers were placed on 3-day administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting, a standard procedure when police are involved in shootings, Thomas said.