BEDFORD (1080 KRLD) - A Bedford police officer's arm was broken in a "scuffle" with a suspect he had just shot Wednesday morning.
Bedford police say the officer tried to make a traffic stop in a neighborhood near 183 and Forest Ridge Drive about 2 a.m. Wednesday.
They say the suspect refused to stop but only drove a short distance before losing control. Police say the suspect missed a turn, hit the curb and his airbags deployed near Circle Lane and Annette Drive.
They say the suspect got out of the car and walked toward the officer "making motions with his hands behind his back and also verbally indicating he had a weapon."
Police say the officer started to move backward while yelling at the suspect to stop.
"The suspect continued to approach the officer, saying he was going to harm him," says Bedford Police Sgt Ty Stillman. "The officer fired his weapon, striking the suspect in his leg."
"Of course, we're happy no loss of life occurred today," Stillman says. "When an officer's retreating, he's backing up. At nighttime, you're negotiating the road and, of course, there's someone charging at you."
The suspect was not identified, but he will be booked into jail after he is released from the hospital. Stillman says the officer will stay on leave while Texas Rangers investigate. He says the officer has been with the department less than two years.
"We have a great peer support team. From what I understand, the officer is in really good spirits, has a really good attitude, understands his job and is dealing with the injury he has," Stillman says.
"It's kind of spooky," one man who lives in the neighborhood said. "I'm out here every day in the morning walking. Usually, there's no one out here."