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Officer bullets wound suspect in short chase
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A 28-year-old Ceres man was shot by a veteran Ceres police officer early Friday morning during a vehicle pursuit that ended on Belleza Court.

Suspect Martin Moreno, 28, of Ceres, was treated for non-life threatening wounds sustained during the chase which began at 2:11 a.m.

Police were dispatched to a disturbance between two people in the drive-thru lane at Del Taco Restaurant on Mitchell Road and as they arrived, Moreno refused to speak to officers and fled in his green Honda.

Officers chased the suspect for approximately one mile with lights and sirens activated. Moreno turned onto Belleza Court, where an officer performed a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver on Moreno's vehicle, which was then facing a patrol car. Within seconds of the maneuver, officers were outside their patrol cars when Moreno allegedly accelerated toward them. Four shots were fired at Moreno by Joe Wren, a veteran canine officer. Moreno sustained one shot in his shoulder. He was immediately taken into custody and provided medical aid for his injuries, including a gunshot wound and cuts and scrapes. He was transported to a Modesto hospital. Moreno was booked into the Stanislaus County Jail after his release from the hospital, charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer with a weapon other than a firearm, felony evading, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and obstructing/resisting a public officer. He has since been released on bail.

Wren was placed on a brief administrative leave, which is standard policy for officer involved shootings. No officers were injured during the incident.

Sgt. Pat Sullivan said multi-agency investigations is taking place that will include internal affairs and the district attorney's office.

Moreno was arrested July 11 after he was found passed out behind the wheel of his car as he was in the drive-thru lane at Carl's Junior next door to the Del Taco. Moreno was roused and an electronic test of his breath revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.18. He was arrested on charges of driving under the influence (DUI) and driving on a suspended license.