Man Jailed After He Rams Police Cruiser
Two Newport Beach Police officers suffered minor injuries early Friday when a fleeing suspect deliberately slammed head-on into their patrol car, authorities said.
Both officers were treated at the scene and released. The suspect, 31-year-old Richard Dennis Starling, was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer and attempted grand theft. He is being treated at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana for a collapsed lung, broken ribs and other injuries, Newport Beach police said.
Investigators said Starling is suspected of trying to steal wheels from a parked Lexus near the Promontory Point condominium complex in Newport Beach. When he saw police officers approaching about 2:30 a.m., officials said, he fled in a Nissan pickup but slammed into the Chevrolet Tahoe patrol car carrying Officers Charles Freeman and Rachel Hall.
The crash is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol.
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