OC Man Fired Officer's Gun, Bit Sergeant During Violent PD Lobby Incident: DA

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA — A convicted felon is facing charges connected to allegations he grabbed a police officer's gun, fired a round and bit a sergeant as officers were trying to arrest him in the Fountain Valley Police Department’s lobby, prosecutors said this week.

Walter Corea Sanchez, 29, of Fountain Valley, pleaded not guilty to one felony count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a peace officer, one felony count of aggravated assault on a peace officer, two felony counts of obstructing or resisting an executive officer, one felony count of grossly negligent discharge of a firearm, one misdemeanor count of resisting a public officer with attempted firearm removal, one misdemeanor count of resisting a peace officer, and one misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

The charges stem from an incident on the morning of Dec. 19. Sanchez is accused of entering the FVPD's lobby and "yelling and acting erratically when officers tried to speak with him," prosecutors said.

For about 10 minutes, Sanchez paced back and forth while yelling at officers and desk staff and "raising his hands toward the faces of several police officers," prosecutors said.

"Officers walked Sanchez out of the lobby and told Sanchez he needed to leave and that if he tried to enter the lobby again, he would be arrested," the DA's office said.

He followed police back inside the lobby, prompting three officers to approach him in an attempt to arrest him. He then ran outside, prosecutors said.

"Officers again told Sanchez to leave, but instead, Sanchez is accused of placing his backpack on the ground and trying to take something out. Officers began to arrest Sanchez, but as he was being pulled to the ground, Sanchez is accused of grabbing one of the officer’s guns, pulling the trigger and firing off a round. No one was hit by the bullet," prosecutors said.

Sanchez is also accused of biting a police sergeant who was assisting in the arrest. "The sergeant used his Taser on Sanchez multiple times, and Sanchez was taken into custody by four Fountain Valley police officers," prosecutors said.

Sanchez was on probation at the time of the incident after he pled guilty in August to a felony charge of resisting an executive officer, the DA's office said.

He faces a maximum sentence of 31 years and eight months in state prison if convicted as charged.