By Thaddeus Miller
The Fresno Bee
FRESNO, Calif. — An 18-year-old fleeing arrest after firing a handgun in a River Park parking lot was struck by officers in a Fresno patrol car, according to video released Friday by police.
Officers were in the River Park area near Blackstone and El Paseo avenues about 5:30 p.m. Aug. 20 when they heard a single gunshot, according to police.
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George Ruiz, 18, had fired a round at a passing car before fleeing west across Blackstone, according to police.
An officer chased after Ruiz on foot as he ran through parking lots while another officer pursued him in a police cruiser, video shows.
Police said Ruiz attempted to carjack a vehicle in the parking lot but was unsuccessful. Video shows Ruiz approaching a truck or SUV before the driver sped away.
Police said Ruiz fled past the north end of Sam’s Club while headed west. The police video shows he almost reached San Pablo Avenue before an officer in the police cruiser struck Ruiz from behind.
Video appears to show Ruiz carrying a handgun while on the run. The officer in the patrol car can be heard saying, “He’s reaching,” before driving the cruiser into the back of Ruiz.
The 18-year-old partially rolls onto the hood of the car before he falls to the ground, video shows. The gun he appeared to be carrying can be seen lying nearby.
The officers then handcuffed Ruiz, video shows.
Ruiz was transported to a Fresno hospital after complaining of leg pain, police said. No one else was injured in the incident.
Ruiz remains in Fresno County Jail in lieu of $575,000 bail, according to jail records. He has pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including assault with a firearm and several other gun charges as well as resisting arrest.
His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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