On September 28, 2021, Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) responded to assist Anaheim Police Department (APD) with a vehicle pursuit in our city. The suspect was wanted for an armed robbery and was driving a stolen vehicle. SAPD officers joined the pursuit however, the pursuit became too dangerous and both SAPD and APD stopped pursuing the suspect.
Anaheim Police Department’s Airship, “Angel” was monitoring the suspect’s vehicle when it was disabled after crashing into a railroad construction site in the area of Santa Ana Boulevard and Bristol Street.
SAPD officers attempted a felony car stop however, the suspect refused to obey officer commands to exit the vehicle. The suspect was believed to be armed with a handgun and SAPD utilized an armored vehicle to contain the suspect until APD SWAT personnel could respond.
APD took over the scene and SAPD personnel assisted with securing the perimeter. At 10:00 PM, Anaheim Police officers were involved in an officer-involved shooting.
As with all officer-involved shootings, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office responded and is the lead investigating agency to determine whether there was any criminal culpability on behalf of the involved APD officer(s). SAPD and APD are handling the criminal and administrative portion of this incident.
Here is the press release about this incident from the Anaheim Police Department:
Fatal Officer Involved Shooting
ANAHEIM, CALIF, (September 29, 2021) – Anaheim PD SWAT personnel fatally shoot a suspect after an hours long standoff.
On Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at about 5 p.m., Anaheim Police Investigators observed an adult male suspect, wanted for armed robberies, driving a stolen vehicle in the City of Santa Ana. With the assistance of the Anaheim PD helicopter, two marked (black and white) Anaheim PD attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle but the suspect fled and a police pursuit ensued.
Santa Ana PD units responded to assist in the pursuit, however, due to the suspect’s dangerous driving, the vehicle pursuit was terminated as the police helicopter continued to monitor the suspect’s driving activity.
The helicopter crew observed the suspect vehicle become disabled in a construction area on Santa Ana Boulevard, east of Bristol Street in the City of Santa Ana. Santa Ana PD units responded to the location and attempted to convince the suspect to surrender peacefully, but he refused.
Santa Ana negotiators continued attempting to convince the suspect to surrender for about three hours before Anaheim PD SWAT personnel and Tactical Negotiators responded to relieve Santa Ana personnel. Anaheim PD negotiators also worked for over an hour in an attempt to convince the suspect to surrender but he refused.
Just before 10 p.m., chemical agents were used in an attempt to gain the suspect’s compliance. The suspect exited the vehicle and an officer-involved shooting occurred. The suspect was declared deceased on scene. No police officers were injured as a result of the shooting. Only Anaheim PD personnel were involved in the shooting.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office responded to initiate the investigation into the circumstances of the officer-involved shooting. Due to the shooting occurring in Santa Ana, SAPD is assisting the OCDA Office. The Anaheim PD Major Incident Review Team (MIRT) and Internal Affairs, along with the Anaheim Police Review Board and the Office of Independent Review also responded to the scene. The suspect has not yet been identified pending next of kin notification.
