Police on Wheels, Paws Catch Holdup Suspects
A motorcycle officer and a police dog teamed up to capture two men suspected of holding up a liquor store at gunpoint Tuesday night, police said.
The two men were spotted driving in a car shortly after South Coast Liquor in the 2200 block of South Bristol Street was robbed, Santa Ana Police Lt. Earl Porter said.
“A Santa Ana motor officer saw the vehicle in the area of Flower and Bishop streets and began following it,” Porter said. “The suspects drove into a cul-de-sac, at which time they both fled on foot, one with a handgun.”
The officer ordered the men to stop. When they didn’t, the officer fired one round, but missed. One of the men surrendered and was arrested.
Other officers and a police dog team arrived at the scene. The police dog was able to sniff out the other man who was hiding in bushes, Porter said.
The men, Luis Rivapalacio, 18, of Anaheim and Jorge Ortega Bonola, 19, of Santa Ana, were being held at County Jail on suspicion of auto theft and armed robbery.
Police recovered cash, a handgun and the stolen car, Porter said.
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