Laguna Beach Police Pursuit Leads To Officer Involved Shooting

LAGUNA BEACH, CA - A cross-Coast Highway vehicle pursuit damaged at least two bystander cars and ended in an officer-involved shooting of the suspect, Laguna Beach Police reported early Friday morning. The shooting occurred at the end of the pursuit, according to Laguna Beach police.

One suspect was injured, transported to the hospital, and is in critical but stable condition. No one else was injured in the incident, according to police.

Shortly after 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Laguna Beach police attempted to stop a car at Smithcliffs and North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach Chief of Police Robert Thompson reported.

The driver fled from the officer and struck two cars on North Coast Highway, according to Thompson.

Multiple Laguna Police officers chased the driver into Newport Beach, where he then made a U-Turn and headed back toward Laguna. Officers pursued the vehicle through town with lights, sirens, and helicopters drawing the attention of many.

At Nyes Place, one police officer conducted a Pursuit Intervention Technique and disabled the vehicle. The driver fled the car when a shooting took place. No bystanders were injured during the shooting.

The driver, identified as Tobiah Paul Steinmetz, 36, of Jupiter, Florida, was injured in the shooting, Thompson said. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he remains in critical but stable condition, according to police.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office will investigate the shooting, and the Laguna Beach Police Department will also review the incident.