Officer Returns Assailant’s Fire, but No One Hit

A man fired a handgun at a police officer on routine patrol Wednesday, triggering an exchange of gunfire in which no one was injured, police said.

The man who shot at the officer fled the scene, along with two companions, and eluded capture, authorities said.

The officer sustained minor injuries when he dove for cover. He was treated for scrapes at St. Jude Hospital and Rehabilitation Center and released, Fullerton Police Sgt. Glenn Deveney said.

He said that about 8 a.m., the officer was patrolling the alley behind an apartment complex in the 1300 block of South Vine Avenue.

Seeing a man standing near a van, the officer left his car and walked toward the man, Deveney said. Two other men then emerged from behind the van.

One of them pulled out a dark handgun and began firing at the officer, causing him to dive for cover behind a low wall, Deveney said. The officer then returned fire, forcing the three men to flee on foot.

It was not known how many shots were fired in the short exchange.

A search that included a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department helicopter was called off three hours later, Deveney said.