A car pursued by Fullerton Police slammed into a tow truck and ended up partially stuck under the truck’s flatbed at a gas station early Sunday morning, Sept. 28, officials said.
At around 2 a.m., officers responded to a “possible domestic violence incident” on the 2500 block of West Orangethorpe Avenue, police spokeswoman Kristy Wells said.
Officers located the suspect in a parking lot as he entered his car. When they attempted to detain him, he drove off in the car, nearly striking one of the officers’ vehicles, police said.
Officers initiated a traffic stop; however, the suspect failed to yield, and a brief pursuit ensued, Wells said.
The suspect ultimately crashed into a light pole in the area of Brookhurst Road and Orangethorpe Avenue and then a parked tow truck at a Chevron station across the street from a McDonald’s.
He then exited his car and “aggressively approached” officers, who Tased him, Wells said.
The suspect was identified as a 37-year-old Santa Ana resident. He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, felony evading, hit-and-run, driving under the influence and violation of a protective order. The deadly weapon allegation was related to the police car that was nearly struck, Wells said.
Video of the crash aftermath from freelance news agency OC Hawk shows the handcuffed suspect being examined by paramedics and transported for medical treatment. The suspect’s injuries were minor, Wells said, and the driver of the tow truck was not in the vehicle.
The video shows twisted street signs attached to the pole hanging off the suspect’s red Prius, which was partially embedded underneath the flatbed.