A Garden Grove police officer is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle during a foot chase that unfolded just after midnight near the corner of Stanford Avenue and Brookhurst Street, ABC7 reports. The incident began when the department received reports of a man assaulting a clerk with a knife at a local 7-Eleven and escalated quickly when the suspect failed to comply with officers' efforts to detain him.
During the ensuing pursuit, the officer was hit by a car whose driver stayed at the scene and is currently cooperating with the investigation, and though the suspect attempted to flee, he was ultimately apprehended and is now in custody “The suspect ignored officers commands and a foot pursuit ensued," the Garden Grove Police Department explained in a statement, as a tragically routine investigation turned abruptly into a life-threatening situation for one of their own.
As stated in a social media update from the department, reflected in coverage by KTLA, the officer, who has not been named, was rushed to a hospital following the incident, which took place during an active investigation into an assault; with the preliminary information pinpointing the assault to threats made by a knife-wielding man toward a store clerk.
Gratitude was expressed by the Garden Grove Police Department towards neighboring agencies for their support during the critical incident with a nod to AnaheimPD, OrangePD, CHP, and others for their assistance, this statement was mirrored on their Instagram post commemorating the inter-agency cooperation that ensured the officer received timely medical help and that the suspect was successfully placed under arrest after a tense and dangerous sequence of events unfolded.
