SF police officer hurt in crash with armed robbery suspects

SAN FRANCISCO

Detectives are still trying to piece together the details of exactly what happened.

We do know that it all started with an armed robbery on the block of 35th Avenue and Balboa Street. Then, at some point, one of the suspects' guns went off, firing a bullet into a home down the block.

The robbery and following gunshot happened just after sunrise Saturday at 7 a.m.

No one was injured there, but the two suspects sped off and neighbors called 911.

The police quickly spotted them a few blocks away. That's where the street chase began.

Witnesses of the whole event say they were surprised at what happened.

"It really did sound like a car chase," Steve Minkin said. "A big crash, then the car kept on going. Honestly, I went back to sleep. I thought it was the garbage pickup."

Resident Kevin Francisco added, "I mean usually, like I said, it's like a safe haven coming back here. And seeing that gunshot, like right next door, is not. It's pretty unsettling."

The pursuit ended in the Sunset District at Lincoln Way and 20th Avenue.

That's where a patrol cruiser collided with the suspect car.

Police arrested the two accused robbers.

The officer involved in the crash suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital.

Investigators say they're still trying to decide if the two suspects will also be charged with assault on a police officer because of the car crash.

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