Jan. 12--A 38-year-old man was shot twice by police early Monday after he burglarized a perfume shop, then ran a stolen box truck into a patrol car in Ontario, police said.
Juan Carlos Perez of Riverside was hospitalized in stable condition after the early morning shooting, Ontario police Sgt. Jeff Higbee said.
It all started when police responded to a burglary alarm call at about 3:10 a.m. at La Mina de Oro perfume shop in the 1400 block of South Grove Avenue.
Officers found a large hole in a rear steel door, which was possibly rammed by the truck, Higbee said.
As police approached the building, Perez took off, refusing orders to stop, Higbee said. Perez jumped into the box truck, which was reported stolen from Riverside, and drove toward the officers.
He crashed into the front of the patrol car, totaling it, Higbee said.
The officers, who avoided being injured, opened fire on Perez.
Perez was struck twice, and a passenger in the truck, Yessica Cerpas, was struck by shards of glass.
After Cerpas was released from the hospital Monday, she was booked on suspicion of burglary, Higbee said.
Police found boxes of perfume bottles in the back of the box truck as well other valuables. Police are trying to find out whether those items were also stolen.
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