Officer shot after Florence car pursue
GAVIN JACKSON/ MORNING NEWS A police cruiser went down an embankment near railroad tracks on South Barringer Street after an officer and suspect sustained non-life menacing wounds after being shot when a car pursue ended on South Barringer Street in Florence Monday evening. Three suspects are in custody.
State Highway Patrol officers speak with a member of the Florence Police Department after a City of Florence police officer and suspect sustained non-life menacing wounds in a shoot out after a car pursue ended on South Barringer Street in Florence Monday evening. Three suspects are in custody.
- GAVIN JACKSON/ MORNING NEWS
Police investigate a vehicle following a car pursue Monday that ended with three suspects in custody.
- GAVIN JACKSON / MORNING NEWS
Three suspects fled their stolen vehicle after crashing into a pole. The ensuing foot pursue resulted in one officer and one suspect being shot, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
- GAVIN JACKSON / MORNING NEWS
Police direct traffic Monday following a car pursue that ended with three suspects in custody.
- GAVIN JACKSON / MORNING NEWS
A police cruiser rests on an embankment following a car pursue Monday that ended with three suspects in custody.
- GAVIN JACKSON / MORNING NEWS
A police cruiser is pulled up an embankment following a pursue that ended with three suspects in custody and one officer shot.
- TRACI BRIDGES / MORNING NEWS
GAVIN JACKSON/ MORNING NEWS Maj. Carlos Raines with the Florence Police Department speaks with others after a City of Florence police officer and suspect sustained non-life menacing wounds in a shoot out after a car pursue ended on South Barringer Street in Florence Monday evening. Three suspects are in custody.
- GAVIN JACKSON/ MORNING NEWS
FLORENCE, S.C. – The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating a shooting involving a Florence Police officer that began Monday afternoon when officers spotted a car that had been reported stolen out of Richland County.
The officer very first spotted the car near Hoffmeyer Road and Beltline Drive in West Florence. He pursued the vehicle for awhile and eventually activated his blue lights on Darlington Street, Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler said.
The car pursue continued through town and ended along Barringer Street when the suspect’s car crashed into a light pole just before the National Cemetery Road intersection. A police cruiser involved in the pursue also crashed nearby into a ditch that runs along the railroad tracks.
The suspect hopped out of the car and attempted to run, Heidler said.
“The officer followed and gave pursue,” Heidler said. “There was a shot fired and both the officer and the suspect suffered non-life menacing injuries.”
The injured suspect and two others were in police custody within minutes of the crash and shooting.
As the events of the pursue unfolded, neighbors from surrounding areas began gathering near the scene, speculating on what had happened. Many voiced concerns for the officers involved in the incident.
“Was there an officer shot?” one woman at the scene asked another, who replied the officer had been shot but was expected to make a utter recovery.
“Oh, thank the Lord,” she quickly responded. “Thank the Lord our officers are all right. That’s all I was worried about.”
Heidler said the matter has been turned over to SLED.
SLED spokesman Thom Berry confirmed his agency is investigating and said it’s routine protocol for SLED to investigate officer-involved shootings.
“This is fairly standard practice when an officer is involved in a shooting,” Berry said. “We have crime scene technicians and regional agents on the scene. We are conducting an investigation into the shooting incident itself.”
Berry said Monday’s incident in Florence marks the 15th officer-involved shooting in South Carolina this year.