A burglary suspect shot by Santa Ana police Wednesday was in surgery for a leg wound, a police spokesman said.
Police were called about 8:30 a.m. about a man apparently attempting to break into a car at a warehouse parking lot for Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on MacArthur Boulevard, Santa Ana Police Department Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
The caller, who was a church employee, attempted to confront the suspect, but when the man “brandished what he thought was a firearm, he left and called us,” Bertagna said.
The worker gave police a suspect description of a man wearing all black clothing with a tattoo on his face, Bertagna said.
A police helicopter spotted a potential suspect in an industrial area in the 3500 block of West Lake Center Drive and when an officer attempted to contact the man an officer-involved shooting occurred, Bertagna said.
The suspect was wounded in the thigh area and taken to an area hospital, where he was in surgery Wednesday evening, Bertagna said.
The suspect had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, Bertagna said.