SANTA ANA : Check-Cashing Firm Owner Shot, Robbed

The owner of a check-cashing business was wounded early Friday in a gun battle with two men posing as police officers who robbed him of $10,000, police said.

The money was recovered and one of the robbers also may have been wounded in the gunfire, police said.

Manuel Martinez Fregoso, 53, told investigators that he was stopped outside his home in the 300 block of South Susan Street about 2:50 a.m. by two men in dark fatigues, who identified themselves as police, authorities said.

Police Sgt. Dick Faust said Martinez was carrying the day’s receipts from his check-cashing business. He struggled with the men and was shot in the arm.

Martinez, who had a gun in his car, grabbed it and fired back at his assailants, Faust said. Martinez told police he was sure his shots hit one of the men, Faust added.

One of the assailants fled with the money in a gray van and the other fled on foot, Faust said. Officers spotted the van in the 200 block of South Jackson Street and chased it.

The pursuit ended at 7th and Sunset streets, where the driver abandoned the van and the $10,000 and ran. Police conducted a house-to-house search for the fugitive without success, Faust said.

Martinez was treated at Medical Center of Garden Grove and released, Faust said.

The van had not been reported stolen, police said. The robbers, who have not had been identified, were described only as in their 20s.