Anaheim police shoot at suspect during vehicle pursuit

Anaheim police officers shot at an allegedly armed suspect Friday following a vehicle pursuit, authorities announced.

The 31-year-old suspect was not struck by gunfire, and officers recovered a firearm at the scene, police said.

On Friday just before 3:45 a.m. an officer witnessed a hit-and-run traffic collision, according to the Anaheim Police Department. When the officer attempted to pull over one of the vehicles involved in the collision, the driver did not stop and a car chase ensued. During the chase, the fleeing driver struck a police vehicle and pointed a gun at pursuing officers.

At one point during the chase, an officer-involved shooting took place in the parking lot of the McDonald’s restaurant in the 1100 block of North State College Boulevard, police said. The pursuit resumed, and a second officer-involved shooting occurred on State College Boulevard near the 91 Freeway.

The chase eventually ended in the 2800 block of East Virginia Street. A police vehicle did tactical maneuver that caused the suspect vehicle to turn sideways and stop.

Milton Urquiza Cruz of San Pedro was arrested without further incident, police said. Urquiza Cruz was not struck by gunfire and was not injured. A firearm was recovered from the vehicle he was driving during the pursuit.

Urquiza Cruz was booked into the Anaheim Police Department’s jail on suspicion of assault on a peace officer, possession of a firearm by a felon or prohibited person, possession of ammunition by a felon or prohibited person, felony evading, misdemeanor hit-and-run and a felony arrest warrant, authorities said.

No officers or members of the public were injured resulting from the pursuit or gunshots.

Anaheim Police Department homicide detectives are leading the shooting investigation and “are not disclosing any additional details at this time because the investigation is ongoing,” according to the department. When the investigation concludes, detectives will present the case to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to determine if the officers acted lawfully.

The Anaheim PD Major Incident Review Team, Internal Affairs and the Orange County Office of Independent Review also responded to the shooting incident.