The Associated Press
WESTMINSTER, Calif. (AP) -- A woman wanted for her alleged role in a gang attack that left an off-duty New York City police officer paralyzed was arrested Wednesday at a California motel, authorities said.
Uyen “Wendy” Nguyen, 28, was booked on suspicion of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution after authorities were tipped to her location, said Westminster Police Officer Bill Arganda.
“We received an anonymous letter that indicated the fugitives were at the location,” Arganda said.
The case was recently featured on FOX’s “America’s Most Wanted.”
Nguyen was wanted for allegedly participating in the beating of Officer Hugh Nguyen outside a Jersey City bar, authorities said. The two are not related.
Nguyen and three others, who were alleged members of a street gang, were at the Miss Saigon Bar on Nov. 19, 2002, authorities said. The officer also was at the bar visiting with a friend.
When the bartender tried to close the bar, the four refused to leave, authorities said. The officer then forced Nguyen and the others to leave. Authorities said the four later returned and attacked the officer, beating him repeatedly with bar stools.
The officer suffered two crushed vertebrae in his back, paralyzing him from the chest down, authorities said.
Two others -- Mai “Mike” Nguyen and Binh Nguyen -- were arrested in New Jersey. Authorities were still searching for Thanh Le Hai, 23, who allegedly participated in the beating. Hai was believed to have fled to California, Arganda said.
During the raid at the Westminster Motor Inn, authorities also arrested Nguyen’s boyfriend, 28-year-old Ton Le, who was booked on suspicion of harboring a fugitive.
Nguyen was being held without bail at the Orange County Jail and faces extradition to New Jersey, Arganda said.