Police Shoot Suspect in Armed Robberies : Crime: Man allegedly held up 2 restaurants, stole a Mercedes and led authorities on a high-speed chase.

Los Angeles police shot and wounded an armed robbery suspect in Reseda Saturday night after he robbed two restaurants and led officers on a high-speed chase in a stolen Mercedes-Benz, police said.

The man, John Scalese, 20, fired one round at two police officers who fired back with 12 rounds, wounding Scalese in the back, Los Angeles Police Officer Larry Judd said.

Scalese was arrested and taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center for treatment. Hospital officials declined to release Scalese’s condition but police said it was not critical.

According to Judd, Scalese’s Halloween-night ride began about 6:45 p.m., when he robbed a Coco’s restaurant in Northridge.

Later, Judd said, he robbed a nearby Tony Roma’s restaurant.

Scalese then walked down the street and stole a black Mercedes 500 SL at gunpoint from its owner, Judd said.

Police responding to the stolen car report gave chase, but Scalese sped away and escaped, Judd said.

Los Angeles Police Officers Mark Hall and Gary White spotted the Mercedes on Tampa Avenue about 8:20 p.m. and began to follow, Judd said.

The Mercedes spun out on Tampa and Scalese ran from the car, Judd said.

He ran up to the door of a house in the 6500 block of Tampa Avenue and fired a shot at the door, presumably as a way to force it open, Judd said.

When that didn’t work, Judd said, Scalese fired a single round at officers.

White returned fire with 10 rounds, and Hall with two, Judd said.

Police confiscated a briefcase filled with money and a .38-caliber revolver from Scalese.