SANTA ANA : Police Have Scuffle With Drug Suspect
Undercover narcotics officers wrestled a loaded handgun away from a suspect they arrested on suspicion of trying to sell them three grams of heroin, authorities said Thursday.
No shots were fired during the officers’ scuffle with Hector R. Morales, 25, of Santa Ana.
The incident occurred Wednesday about 3 p.m. at the corner of Edinger and Grand avenues in Santa Ana when Morales and another man, Ciro B. Milan, 26, of Santa Ana, sold the heroin to the undercover officers, police said.
After the sale, officers closed in on Morales’ car “to make the arrest (but) Morales tried to escape, backing into the approaching unmarked (police) car,” according to Orange Police Lt. Ed Tunstall. Milan was in the passenger seat, he said.
When officers ran to Morales’ car on foot, they saw him reach under the car seat and pull out a gun, Tunstall said.
Officers wrestled the loaded gun away, and both suspects suffered minor scrapes, Tunstall said.
Morales and Milan were arrested on suspicion of selling heroin and taken to Orange County Jail, where they are being held on $10,000 bail each.
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.
