Santa Ana Chase Ends in Shooting

A 23-year-old man spotted in the middle of an apparent drug deal was shot and critically injured by Santa Ana police Tuesday after he led them on a foot chase and brandished what turned out to be a heavy-duty flashlight, police said.

Police did not release the man’s name, but said he has a lengthy criminal history and is on probation for carrying a firearm and heroin possession.

The incident began when two officers patrolling the 1000 block of Myrtle Street about 10:30 a.m. saw a man who appeared to be making a drug deal.

“The officers tried to stop him to talk to him but he took off running,” said Police Lt. George Saadeh.

Police said the man raced through backyards, hopped fences and finally ran into the Camile Street home of an elderly couple who were watching their grandchild.

As the residents fled from the house unharmed, police surrounded the residence and ordered the man to drop an object he was carrying, Saadeh said.

“The officers had limited view. They were outside looking in and it was dark inside the house,” Saadeh said. “All they knew was [that] it was a large metal object. The suspect advanced at the officers and they shot him.”

The man, who was struck twice in the chest, was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana where he was listed in critical condition.

The object was later discovered to have been a large metal flashlight.

Police said the man has previously been convicted for carrying concealed firearms, heroin use and possession of burglary tools. They said he has used 10 aliases in five years, has served several sentences at County Jail and has been deported.

The names of the two officers involved in the shooting were not released. Police said one of the patrol officers is a 15-year veteran and the other has been with the department for four years.

The shooting occurred in a dense neighborhood lined with cars and older bungalow-style homes. Residents said the neighborhood has been marred by gangs and open drug dealing.

“Sometimes I hear gunfire here,” said David Gaeta, 53, who has managed a nearby apartment complex for seven years. “We all live near each other but I mind my own business and they mind theirs.”

The Orange County district attorney’s office is investigating the incident, a routine procedure in officer-involved shootings.