Officers Open Fire During Burglary Call in Anaheim

One of the men drove a vehicle toward an officer who was chasing a suspect on foot, according to police

One person is in custody and authorities are searching for another after officers opened fire on a subject in a vehicle as they responded to a burglary alarm early Friday in Anaheim.

The gunfire comes after two fatal police shootings last weekend led to violent protests in the city. An emergency meeting of a police advisory board was held Friday morning, and more protestes were planned for Friday evening.

At about 3:30 a.m. Friday, officers responding to the burglary alarm noticed Items from inside a residential community clubhouse outside the building near Melrose and Water Street, said Sgt. Bob Dunn.

Officers ran after a man who came out of the building and fled, Dunn said. As officers pursued that individual, another officer attempted to speak with a man inside a nearby vehicle.

The man drove toward an officer before police fired, Dunn said.

"The driver accelerated in the direction of the officer who was in foot-pursuit of the suspect," said Dunn.

It was not immediately clear whether the man inside the vehicle was shot, Dunn said. That subject fled in the vehicle, and officers are conducting a search Friday morning.

The other subject was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. The individual, who was on parole for a previous burglary, will be booked for burglary and resisting arrest, Dunn said.

His was later identified as Abel Frank Armenta, 36, of Placentia, and was booked on suspicion of burglary and resisting arrest, Dunn said.

Unrest followed the weekend shootings, one involving an unarmed man police say was a known gang member. The shootings led to protests in other parts of the country after demonstrators in Anaheim took to the streets four nights in a row.

Tuesday's was the largest and most violent protest, with demonstrators hurling rocks and bottles at police, who made two dozen arrests. About 20 businesses were damaged.

Federal authorities have agreed, on the city's request, to investigate the shootings.

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City News Service contributed to this report.

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