Police arrest theft suspect after scuffle

A Fountain Valley Police officer suffered two fractured fingers today while attempting to detain a theft suspect, Fountain Valley Police reported.

Police responded to the area near Starbucks at 17850 Newhope St. at 8:29 a.m. after it was reported a male suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Raul Serna of Santa Ana, fled the store with stolen merchandise.

A police officer attempted to detain Serna, but the suspect did not comply with the officer’s commands, police said.

According to witnesses, when the arriving officer approached, Serna assaulted the officer by swinging a backpack and attempted to tackle the officer. After a brief struggle, Serna was taken into custody with minor abrasions. The arresting officer sustained the two fractured right fingers and minor abrasions.

Serna was arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, resisting arrest and assaulting a peace officer. He was booked into the Orange County Jail.