MOUNTAIN VIEW – Authorities are searching for a man who shot and injured a Mountain View police officer shortly after the officer pulled over the man during a traffic stop at Villa Street and Wild Cherry Lane early Saturday morning, police said.
An unidentified man inside the vehicle shot at the officer after midnight, and drove away from the area, police said. The man then crashed his car and ran from the scene on foot, police said.
Police and several neighboring agencies including the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, the Santa Clara Police Department, California Highway Patrol and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office are now leading a “large-scale perimeter search” in and around downtown Mountain View – including circling a helicopter over Central Expressway – for the man.
They are calling the suspect “armed and dangerous.”
Authorities are also working to identify the shooter.
The officer – who suffered a gunshot wound to his upper body – did not shoot back at the man, police said.
The five-year veteran police officer was transported to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening. He was later released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, police said. Police declined to identify the officer.
“He was working an overtime shift focusing on DUI patrol when he stopped the driver involved in the shooting. The interaction was seconds before the suspect opened fire at close range,” police said.
“I am forever grateful that this was not a tragedy for our MVPD family,” Chris Hsiung, police chief of the Mountain View police department, said in a news release. “Our officers go out every day, not knowing what they may encounter on patrol. All department resources have been dedicated to this investigation and I have full faith we will apprehend this suspect.”
Check back for updates.
Source: www.mercurynews.com