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Thursday, October 5, 2006
Gang members sought in attack
Police in Placentia are investigating a Monday evening incident in which an SUV ran over a man in Kraemer Park.
By KIMBERLY EDDS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
PLACENTIA – Police are searching for a group of gang members who chased down a man and ran him over in a sport utility vehicle while he played in a park with his wife and 5-year-old daughter.

The 24-year-old man was with his family in Kraemer Park on North Bradford Avenue just after 7 p.m. Monday when a dark green SUV jumped the curb and sped through the grass, police Sgt. Darren Wyatt said.

At least two people in the SUV shouted their gang affiliation as they chased the man down and ran him over as his wife and daughter watched, Wyatt said.

The wife and daughter were not injured.

The injured man, who was not identified, was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange in critical condition with internal injuries. His condition was later upgraded to serious but stable.

"Being hit in the grass probably saved his life," Wyatt said. "It gave way and cushioned him."

Police have not identified any suspects, but the gang name being shouted is a Hispanic gang from outside of the area, Wyatt said. There was nobody else in the park at the time.

Neighborhood gang members are known to frequent Kraemer Park, but the area does not have a history of violent attacks.

"We don't want people to think the park is unsafe," Wyatt said. "They were definitely after him."