Behind the Badge
Police arrested two men and a 17-year-old suspected of robbing two people then leading officers on a high-speed pursuit from Westminster to Santa Ana.
Westminster police at about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday responded to reports of a robbery in the 9800 block of Bolsa Avenue.
A woman told officers three men, one of whom was armed with a gun, approached her and stole her purse.
As officers were trying to locate the suspects, the men robbed another victim in the 14700 block of Bowling Green Street.
This time, police said, the suspects struck the victim on the head before stealing his property.
Officers found the suspects in a vehicle near Brookhurst Street and Hazard Avenue.
Police said when they tried to stop the vehicle the driver took off at a high-rate of speed.
The Anaheim Police Department’s air unit, Angel, assisted with the chase, which ended in a residential neighborhood in Santa Ana.
Two of the men ran inside a home, while police said the third suspect immediately surrendered.
A Santa Ana PD K-9 was called to the scene to apprehend the two remaining suspects, and one suffered a K-9 bite after refusing to surrender and hiding in the residence, police said.
The man was taken to a local hospital where he was treated.
Anthony Huy Dang, 19, of Garden Grove, Jonathan Christian Villasenor, 18, of Santa Ana and a 17-year-old Westminster resident, whose name was not released because he is a juvenile, were arrested on suspicion of robbery, felony evasion and resisting arrest, police said.
No officers were injured and the stolen property was returned, said WPD Sgt. Eddie Esqueda.
“Our officers did a great job investigating these crimes and tracking these dangerous suspects down,” Esqueda said. “This was another fine example of a collaborative effort by multiple police agencies with a successful outcome.”
Police continue to investigate the case. Anyone with information on this crime or the suspects can call 714-548-3212, or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or online at www.occrimestoppers.org. Callers can remain anonymous.
