Santa Ana : Officer Shoots Suspect in Leg After Chase

A Santa Ana police officer shot a robbery suspect in the leg as the man drove his car at him late Friday afternoon, police said.

Maureen Thomas, spokeswoman for the Police Department, said the unidentified officer was not hurt. The 25-year-old suspect, Larry D. Stroup, of Buena Park was captured about four blocks away after his car collided with another vehicle at Willits and Poplar streets, Thomas said. Stroup was arrested, but the charges were not immediately available from police.

Stroup was taken to United Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, where his condition was not immediately available. Thomas said the man had a gunshot wound to the upper left leg.

Thomas said the shooting stemmed from a robbery about 4:10 p.m. at the Golden Fire Restaurant in the 200 block of West Warner Avenue. A man held up the cashier, fleeing with an undetermined amount of money.

Police spotted the suspect’s vehicle a few minutes later as it sped south on Bristol Street, and a chase ensued, Thomas said. The suspect drove to a dead end at Brook Street. As the suspect tried to drive out, one officer got out of his police vehicle.

“The suspect then drove toward this police officer, and the officer, fearing for his life, fired at the suspect,” Thomas said.

She said she did not know how many shots the officer fired.

According to Thomas, the suspect drove four more blocks after the shooting before his car came to rest after a collision. The suspect then jumped from the car and tried to run away when he was caught by officers, police said.

The incident is being investigated by the Orange County district attorney’s office, which is routine in any officer-involved shooting, she said.