Two brothers were arrested early Saturday on suspicion of robbing a west-side restaurant and shooting at a pursuing police officer, authorities said.
Michael J. French, 18, and Roland L. French, 24, were booked into Pima County jail on accusations of robbing several customers at Viva Burrito, 1372 W. St. Mary's Road, said Sgt. Diana Lopez, a Tucson Police Department spokeswoman.
They're also suspected of firing a shotgun at a pursuing police vehicle before other officers caught up and arrested them, Lopez said.
They face numerous charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery and aggravated robbery, she said.
Roland French also faces charges of aggravated assault on a police officer and one count of drive-by shooting, she said.
Lopez gave this account:
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The men went to the restaurant just after 1:30 a.m. and ordered customers inside and outside the restaurant to the ground.
Lopez did not know if any money was taken from the victims.
Police officers were called to the area and attempted to pull over a vehicle matching that of the suspects.
The vehicle refused to stop, and one of the occupants fired at the police car with the shotgun.
The car was struck, but the officer inside was not, said Officer Barrie Pedersen.
The vehicle crashed into a parked car, and the men ran off. Shortly afterward, they were spotted by an air-support helicopter and K-9 unit.
They were caught in a neighborhood a couple of blocks north of the restaurant.
Gang detectives are continuing the investigation.
