Off-Duty Officer Wounds Man Trying to Rob Him of Motorcycle, Police Say

An off-duty Orange police officer shot and wounded a man early Tuesday outside a bar after the suspect tried to rob him of his motorcycle at knifepoint, Anaheim police said.

Officers responded to the Humdinger Bar, 2660 W. Lincoln Ave., about 1:25 a.m. on the report of a shooting, Sgt. Chet Barry said.

They found Jay J. Birkenbach, 28, of Santa Fe Springs lying in the street with two gunshot wounds. He was taken to the UCI Medical Center in Orange, where he was listed in fair condition Tuesday, hospital spokeswoman Fran Tardiff said.

One bullet had gone through his lower left leg and the other into his chest, but it missed internal vital organs, she said.

The district attorney was also called to investigate as a routine policy with officer-involved shootings. The officer’s name was not released pending the outcome of the investigation. He works the night shift for Orange police, that department’s spokesman, Lt. Trey Sirks, said.

Witnesses are still being interviewed, but so far they have told police that the officer was just leaving the bar when he was confronted by Birkenbach in the parking lot, Barry said. The suspect reportedly brandished a knife and demanded the motorcycle, which is the personal property of the officer.

In refusing to hand over his motorcycle, the officer drew his own gun and fired several rounds at Birkenbach, police said.

As soon as his health allows, Birkenbach will be booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of armed robbery, Barry said.