Woman Accused of Aiding Gunmen Who Fired at Police

Police arrested a 24-year-old woman who allegedly pointed out police officers to two men, who then exchanged gunfire with them. The shooting suspects got away despite an extensive search of the residential neighborhood.

Jailed on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer was Norma Juarez, 26, of the 900 block of West Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana Police Sgt. Antony Levtino said Sunday.

Police responded to a report of shots fired at Juarez’s address at 11:28 p.m. Saturday, Levtino said.

The two Santa Ana officers arriving at the location were fired on by two unidentified males standing in the alley next to the residence, Levtino said. Eight to 10 shots were exchanged by police and the men, who fled south in the alley.

No officers were injured and it was not known whether either of the attackers was hit by the police gunfire.

The area was cordoned off and police began a fruitless search that lasted until about 6 a.m., Levtino said.

One family was evacuated from the area during the search.

Juarez was being held at the Santa Ana Police Department detention facility, Levtino said.

“We don’t know at this point why they were shooting originally,” Levtino said.

But, he said, the police investigation revealed that when “the officers arrived at the location and had gotten out of the car and were walking toward the area . . . (Juarez) saw them and pointed them out to the suspects.”

Levtino declined to release the names of the officers involved in the shooting and police had no descriptions or names of suspects in the case.