CLEVELAND — A Cleveland police officer is recovering with non-life-threatening injuries at MetroHealth Hospital after being shot in the arm and leg Tuesday evening, confirmed Cleveland Police.
According to Cleveland Police Chief Wayne Drummond, two detectives assigned to the Third District to investigate the influx in Kia thefts approached what they thought to be a stolen Kia when the four occupants of the car fled.
During a foot chase in the area of E. 28th Street and Cedar Avenue, a man in a bright orange jacket (pictured below) fired shots striking the officer twice.
A suspect has been identified and there is an active warrant in the case, confirms Juvenile Court.
The officer who was shot will remain anonymous until Wednesday to give him time with his loved ones, Drummond said.
An officer responding to the scene provided first aid and wrapped the officer's gunshot wounds before taking him to the hospital in his zone car.
Two additional responding officers were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center after being involved in a car crash while responding to the scene of the officer being shot, Cleveland Police confirmed. They are both doing well, Drummond shared.
Mayor Justin Bibb shared the following statement regarding the shooting:
"This evening one of our Cleveland Police Officers was shot while on duty. He was transported to MetroHealth where he is currently being treated. I visited the officer at the hospital with Chief Drummond. He was alert and I was able to speak with him directly.
I would like to thank all of our first responders who put their lives on the line each and every day to protect our community. I also thank the staff at MetroHealth Medical Center for quickly assisting and treating this officer.
While my main concern tonight is for the well-being of the officer and his family, I must also once again condemn the gun violence we are seeing in our city. We are doing everything in our power to bring perpetrators of this violence to justice as we seek to change dangerous policies that have given rise to the proliferation of guns on our streets. The violence must stop.
My administration will continue to fight to make Cleveland a safe place for all of our residents.
This is an ongoing investigation, and we will update you as additional details become available.
We ask anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Cleveland Police. Anonymous information can also be provided by calling Crimestoppers at 216-25-CRIME."
Chief Wayne Drummond gave the following updates Tuesday evening around 9 p.m.:
According to Cleveland Police, a team of detectives has been investigating Kia and Hyundai thefts in the Third District for the "last couple of months" and the investigations have been "relatively successful".
News 5 will update this story when more information has been made available.
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