Garden Grove : Police Say Suspect Fired at a Pursuing Officer
A man who allegedly shot at a police officer after a routine traffic stop was arrested after a two-hour neighborhood search, a police spokesman said Sunday.
Police arrested Sale Charlie Atuatasi of Westminster after he ran from his car and allegedly shot twice at Officer Darrow Halligan, who was in pursuit, said Sgt. Mark Byrne. Halligan was not hurt.
Halligan stopped Atuatasi and an unidentified companion after their car ran a stop sign at Ward Street and Hazard Avenue about 9:45 p.m., Byrne said.
During the foot chase, Atuatasi allegedly turned and fired two rounds from a small-caliber semiautomatic handgun at Halligan, Byrne said. Police later found the shell casings.
Police from Santa Ana, Westminster, and Garden Grove, including several police canine units, surrounded the area and searched the neighborhood. Atuatasi was found about midnight while walking between two houses, Byrne said.
A semiautomatic handgun was also recovered, said Byrne, who added that the suspect was driving a car reported stolen from Costa Mesa.
Atuatasi was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer and possession of stolen property and transported to Orange County Jail. Atuatasi’s companion was not found.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
