Police Sergeant Hurt During Scuffle
A police sergeant suffered minor head injuries Sunday when he tangled with a suspected car-stereo thief trying to climb a fence, authorities said.
Witnesses told police they spotted two men taking a car stereo from a vehicle parked on the 14000 block of Bowen Street at 12:19 a.m., Westminster police Sgt. Tom Pixler said.
The men allegedly fled in a 1991 Honda Accord, Pixler said. The witnesses, related to the burglarized car’s owner, followed the Honda and called police on a cell phone.
Moments later, officers spotted the suspects and stopped them on Hazard Avenue near Bushard Street. The suspects were identified as Viet Q. Tran, 21, and Thanh Chau, 20, both of Santa Ana.
Police arrested Chau, but Tran fled on foot, and a police sergeant chased him, Pixler said.
During a struggle with the suspect on a fence, the unidentified sergeant fell and hit his head, Pixler said. Police arrested Tran later in the day.
Garden Grove Medical Center treated the sergeant for minor injuries and released him. Police on Monday reported him in good condition.
Both suspects were booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of burglary. Officers said they recovered the audio equipment.
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