Car Theft Suspect Shot in the Arm

ANAHEIM — A police officer shot a suspected car thief in the arm as the two struggled at the end of a short auto chase, authorities said Thursday.

The incident began at 9:20 p.m. Wednesday, police said, when officers tried to stop a car that had been reported stolen near Broadway at Loara Street and the driver fled.

According to Sgt. Chet Barry, the chase continued until the driver crashed in the alley of an apartment complex. The driver then tried to flee on foot and was shot once in the arm by an officer, who was not injured in the incident, Barry said.

Although wounded, the man climbed over a fence in an attempt to escape. Barry said that Greg Allen Patch, 25, of Anaheim was arrested on suspicion of auto theft 15 minutes later when he was found hiding in a trash bin behind a store on Euclid Street.