SANTA ANA : Police Car Fired On; Glass Injures Officer

A Santa Ana police officer suffered slight injuries when his patrol car was riddled with bullets from a passing car, authorities said Monday.

The officer, who was not identified, received cuts on his right arm from broken window glass. He was treated at a Santa Ana hospital and released, Lt. Earl Porter said.

The shooting occurred at 10:50 p.m. Sunday after the officer was sent to the area of 10th and English streets to investigate reported gunplay in the neighborhood.

“It’s a known gang area in the city,” Porter said. “We sometimes get reports of shots fired in those areas.”

As the officer waited on English Street for backup patrol cars, a southbound vehicle sped by with one of its occupants spraying the patrol car with bullets, the lieutenant said. At least four bullets struck the police car, disabling it.

Porter said the car was abandoned about four blocks away. An unknown number of occupants fled through an industrial center. A .30-caliber rifle was found in some bushes near the vehicle, he said. The car had been stolen earlier.