Another officer involved shooting in Anaheim

A burglary investigation in Anaheim resulted in an officer-involved shooting when a suspect drove his car at an officer today, but the target of the gunfire escaped and it was not clear if he was struck.

It was the third officer-involved shooting in Anaheim in less than a week.

Two fatal shootings on Saturday and Sunday sparked four nights of angry protests in the city.

The demonstrations led to unrest on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, when police fired non-lethal rounds at demonstrators who refused orders to disperse and some protesters set fires, smashed the windows of stores and at City Hall and hurled rocks and other projectiles at officers.

Twenty-four people were arrested and at least seven people, including a police officer, were injured.

The latest shooting happened shortly after 3:15 a.m. today when police were dispatched to a condominium complex at Melrose and Water streets on a burglary call, said Anaheim Police Department Spokesman Bob Dunn.

The officers saw in the roadway some appliances that had been taken from a clubhouse at the master-planned condo community, he said.

As they were investigating, the officers saw a man exit the building, and when they tried to stop him he ran.

During the ensuing foot chase, officers saw a dark vehicle parked nearby with a male inside and as they approached it, the driver started the engine and accelerated toward one of them, causing at least one of the officers to open fire, Dunn said.

The man drove off, said Dunn, who added that police have contacted local hospitals but no one has come in wounded by gunfire.

Police set up a perimeter and a police dog eventually located the suspect who fled on foot. He was being treated at a hospital prior to being booked for burglary and resisting arrest, Dunn said. He did not know the man’s age, but said he was already on parole for burglary.

Last weekend, officers shot and killed known gang members Manuel Diaz, 25, and Joel Mathew Acevedo, 21.

During unrest on Saturday and Sunday in Anaheim, protesters set fire to a Dumpster that was rolled into a street, and threw objects at officers. Police fired non-lethal projectiles to disperse the crowd. A police dog got loose during the melee — police said it was an accident — and bit at least two people.

Diaz, whom police described as a documented gang member from Santa Ana, was approached by officers around 4 p.m. Saturday in the 600 block of North Anna Drive. Police said Diaz and his two companions ran off, but an officer caught up to Diaz, and the officer wound up shooting him. Diaz died at a hospital about 7 p.m.

Two officers, including the one who shot Diaz, have been placed on paid leave while an investigation was pending.

Diana Lopez, an attorney for the Diaz family, announced Tuesday a $50 million claim against the city alleging civil rights violations by Anaheim police.

Late Sunday, Anaheim police fatally shot 21-year-old Joel Mathew Acevedo at the end of a stolen-car pursuit. Acevedo, also an alleged gang member, became the fifth person to die in an officer-involved shooting in Anaheim this year. He allegedly fired at officers before being shot.

A sixth person was shot by Anaheim police this year, but survived.