SANTA PAULA : Man, 21, Arrested After Foot Chase
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A Santa Paula man who led police on a foot chase through a residential area was arrested Thursday with the help of a citizen, authorities said.
During the pursuit, the officer chasing John Julien Lopez, 21, accidentally fired his own gun, police said. No injuries were reported.
The officer was on patrol at 12:20 p.m. when he first spotted Lopez running toward Main Street on Cameron Street, with another man running after him, police said.
The man shouted to the officer that Lopez had a handgun, and the officer pursued on foot.
The pursuit went southbound on Cameron, through an apartment complex and onto westbound Main Street, police said. The man who aided police during the pursuit assisted in Lopez’s arrest, authorities said.
Lopez apparently dropped his gun during the chase, police said. It was recovered later.
Police said the incident began as an assault in the 500 block of West Santa Barbara Street.
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