WESTMINSTER : Police Car Rammed in Pursuit of Suspect

A routine traffic stop turned into a chase early Sunday morning as a driver first fled, then rammed a police car and sideswiped another motorist before finally surrendering, police said.

Hoa Van Nguyen, 28, of Midway City was arrested and transferred to the Orange County Jail system. He was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, felony evasion and possession of a stolen car.

The chase began at 12:06 a.m. and reached speeds of 80 m.p.h. as it passed through a residential Westminster neighborhood, police said. The chase began at the intersection of Jackson Street and Bolsa Avenue, and finally drew to a stop at Von Circle, a residential cul-de-sac about a mile away.

“Westminster police attempted to stop the suspect for a vehicle code violation,” Sgt. Dwight Moore said. “His lights were out.”

Rather than pull over, the driver raced away, police said, leading them on a chase that lasted about five minutes and involved several police cars.

One police vehicle received extensive damage when the suspect turned and rammed it with his Honda during the chase, police said.

Both drivers were unhurt and both cars were drivable, however, and police said the fleeing driver took off again, sideswiping another motorist in the process.

That motorist was also unhurt.

“He just kept on going,” Moore said.

The chase continued until the driver boxed himself in at the cul-de-sac, Moore said. Once trapped there, he surrendered.