Suspect Fires at CHP Officer, Hits Only Bike

A suspected drunk driver who fought with a California Highway Patrol officer Tuesday night handcuffed her to her motorcycle, removed her gun and fired at her, hitting the bike but missing the officer, the CHP said.

The man, identified as Jaime Sanchez, 24, of La Habra, was arrested an hour later at the intersection of State College Boulevard and Balsa Avenue in Brea, said Los Angeles CHP spokesman John Halperman.

“A few minutes after the stop, the officer put out a request for help,” Halperman said. “Apparently there was a struggle and the suspect escaped.”

Police said Sanchez then drove to a Mobil gas station at La Habra and Harbor boulevards and robbed the attendant of about $80.

Then, about 9 p.m., an hour after the attack on the CHP officer, the assistant manager of a Blockbuster Video store was retrieving something from his car when he saw the suspect.

Mike Matko said the suspect “came barreling through” the intersection of Beach and La Habra boulevards outside the store.

“The guy’s truck went through the red and slammed into a telephone pole,” Matko said. “After he ran into the pole, he got out of the truck, threw off his jacket and just stared running.”

Matko said officers yelled at the man to stop but that he continued to run and tried to hide behind the video store.

Matko said officers soon cornered the man and arrested him. He said no shots were fired, and the man’s gun was recovered.

Sanchez was booked into the La Habra city jail on suspicion of attempted murder, evading arrest and armed robbery of the gas station .

The CHP officer, who was not identified, suffered a minor cut on her face and was treated at Brea Community Hospital.