Police arrest Santa Ana man suspected of lobbing fireworks, brandishing handgun at protests

Authorities arrested a man suspected of throwing fireworks at officers and brandishing a weapon at protesters during a demonstration against police violence held Sunday in Santa Ana, officials said Tuesday, June 2.

Officers observed Jon Paul Worden, 32, of Santa Ana throwing “mortars” at police who were attempting to disperse a crowd of protesters in the area of Ross and 4th Streets, Santa Ana Police Department officials said in a news release. He was also seen later that evening lifting up his shirt to display a handgun on his hip and brandishing it toward other demonstrators gathered near Birch and 4th Street, police said.

“This armed suspect with access to this cache of weapons and mortars, is what our officers have been dealing with from the aggressive and violent portion of protesters during this civil unrest,” Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin said in a statement. “Although the overwhelming majority of demonstrations have responsibly involved non-violent participants, armed suspects such as in this case, comprise the safety of everyone involved”

Police determined that attempting to apprehend Worden and possibly agitating him while he was amidst the crowd would pose too much of a risk to those around him, Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

“We didn’t want to get into a shootout in the middle of the street,” Bertagna said.

Officers monitored him until he left the area in a vehicle. Police attempted to perform a traffic stop, but a pursuit ensued, SAPD officials said. Th... (Read more)

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