2 CHP Officers Struck, Injured By Suspect During Pursuit

SOLANA BEACH, CA – A man was arrested Thursday morning on suspicion of leading authorities on a pursuit from Orange County to Solana Beach, where two California Highway Patrol officers attempting to stop the pursuit suffered moderate injuries when the man allegedly struck them with his vehicle, authorities said.

Dispatchers received a call about 4:20 a.m. from a person who reported an armed robbery at a Chevron on Alicia Parkway near Interstate 5 in the Laguna Hills area, Orange County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said.

The caller also reported that a man armed with a gun left the area in a vehicle, described as a black Dodge Charger, Braun said.

Investigators later determined that the suspect was involved in a road rage incident during which he threatened the victims with a gun in the Chevron parking lot, she said.

The man then went into the convenience store at the Chevron, pulled out the gun again and demanded cash from the clerk, Braun said, adding that the man left empty-handed after customers walked into the store.

No injuries were reported from that incident.

Deputies responded to the area and located the vehicle a short time later, but the vehicle entered southbound Interstate 5 and sped off, Braun said.

The driver continued southbound on Interstate 5 then exited at Lomas Santa Fe Drive around 5 a.m., San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Fran Passalacqua said.

Two CHP officers were injured during a momentary stop during the chase; the officers had conducted a pit maneuver and temporarily stalled the vehicle, NBC7 reported.

At that point, the driver ran down the officers as they were outside their vehicle and shots were fired, the news station reported.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department confirmed they were conducting an investigation into an officer-involved shooting, but did not disclose any additional details.

Both officers were taken to a hospital for treatment of moderate injuries, CHP Officer Mark Latulippe said.

The vehicle involved in the pursuit was found unoccupied near the intersection of La Floresta and Linea Del Cielo around 5:10 a.m., Passalacqua said.

The suspect was located around 5:50 a.m. near La Floresta and taken into custody, Lt. Jason Vickery said.

No details about the suspect were immediately available.

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--City News Service