SAN DIEGO - A San Diego police officer shot at, but missed, a man who police said pointed a gun at an officer during a foot chase in Lincoln Park Saturday night.
Angel Contreras, 20, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, according to San Diego police Lt. Kevin Rooney of the homicide unit.
Two other men were detained for questioning, he said.
Rooney said police got a 9:15 p.m. report of a petty theft at Imperial Ave. and 50th St. and patrols and anti-gang officers headed that way. Police started questioning a group near 49th Street, and an unidentified man ran west through an alley, Rooney said. A woman also fled.
Several officers chased a second man, later identified as Contreras, south on 50th Street, across Imperial Avenue and into a dirt lot.
"He pulled a handgun from his waistband, turned around and pointed it at the officers," Rooney said. "A Southeastern Division patrol officer fired more than one round and missed."
Rooney said Contreras dropped his handgun and surrendered.
Two other men, also age 20, who did not try to run away, were held for questioning. Several patrol officers and detectives were in on the chase, Rooney said.
"This group happened to be unrelated to the theft," Rooney said. Police closed Imperial Avenue between Willie James Jones Avenue and 50th Street during the investigation.