Officer Hurt Slightly in Hit, Run Accident

A motorcycle officer en route to an accident scene suffered minor injuries Monday evening when he collided with a hit-and-run driver.

Officer Norman Gielda was westbound on 1st Street when an eastbound car turned left in front of him at the intersection of 1st and Lacy streets. The driver of the car, described as an older model, red imported car, took off north on Lacy, police said.

The right side of the suspect’s car was damaged, and its windows were likely broken, Santa Ana Police Sgt. George Kopitch said. Anyone with information on the hit-and-run vehicle should call the Santa Ana police at (714) 647-5095.

Gielda was treated for “bumps and bruises” at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana and was expected to be released Monday night, Kopitch said. A fellow officer who visited Gielda in the emergency room and brought the fallen officer a boot he lost at the accident scene described Gielda as “very lucky and very relieved.”

Sgt. Dave Smith, who also visited Gielda, said the injured officer was fortunate to escape injury. “He’s feeling OK now, but believe me, he’ll be hurting tomorrow,” Smith said.

Police stopped a potential suspect Monday night near the accident area, but the car did not match the evidence collected at the scene. Police technicians will analyze the paint left on the motorcycle, Kopitch said.