DETROIT (WWJ) — A man suspected of stealing a vehicle was hospitalized Friday morning after he was shot and injured in the leg and abdomen by an officer while trying flee from police Friday morning in Detroit.
According to Detroit police authorities, at around 12:45 a.m., officers recognized an individual in a stolen vehicle at a gas station on Schoolcraft and Outer Drive from an earlier incident.
In the earlier incident, the male suspect was accused of stealing a vehicle that had been taken from a post-factory holding facility in Hamtramck in March. The suspect managed to flee from police in the stolen vehicle during a traffic stop on a prior date.
Police said they spotted the suspect early Friday morning and recognized the stolen vehicle. As the officers pulled into the gas station, the suspect saw the patrol car as he was walking across the lot and ran back to his vehicle, hopping into the driver's seat while a woman sat on the passenger's side.
Police said there was a third occupant also in the vehicle.
According to DPD, the officers were able to position their car in front of the stolen vehicle in an attempt to block the suspect in. Police then tried to apprehend the suspect and opened the driver's side door to get him out.
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"While the door was open, the suspect put his vehicle into reverse with two officers caught between the vehicle door and the gas pump," the department said in a press release. "At that point, the officer fired one shot, resulting in injury to the leg and abdomen."
During the suspect's attempt to flee, the female in the vehicle tried to exit from the passenger side and got momentarily wedged between the passenger side door and another parked vehicle.
The suspect then took off.
Police later found the stolen vehicle on the 15700 block of Grandville; both the driver and the third passenger were gone.
A K-9 unit was called in to assist and tracked the suspect and the third occupant to a home in the area; the suspect was apprehended by police and taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries, the department said.
Officials said the man is listed in temporary serious condition.
No other injuries were reported and no officers were injured.
Detroit police said the suspect was on probation and has a long list of criminal history, to include auto thefts.
Charges against the suspect are currently pending upon the Wayne County Prosecutor’s review
"The Detroit Police Department is committed to transparency please note this is a preliminary statement based upon the available information at this time and may be updated as the investigation continues," the department said.
At this time, all additional questions or inquiries have been directed to the Michigan State Police, who is spearheading the investigation.
No other information was released.
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