A pre-dawn heist at a Texas auto park escalated into violence last Friday when a law enforcement officer opened fire on a suspect during an attempted vehicle theft. The Midlothian Police Department confirmed an incident took place at around 3:47 am at the Mid-Texas Auto Park, with officer gunfire reported and the officer consequently suffering minor injuries.
According to a statement released by Chief Carl Smith of the Midlothian Police Department, the suspects managed to make off with one vehicle and were later chased by police officers, despite the confrontation and the officer being hurt, he was later treated for his injuries and released from a local hospital, the administrative leave is standard procedure pending results from the internal probe.
Chief Smith immediately called in the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office to conduct "a thorough and impartial investigation" into the shooting in a bid to assure accountability and transparency. The officer involved in the shooting, who has not been identified, has been placed on administrative leave, which aligns with departmental policies concerning officer-involved shootings.
Meanwhile, the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force, where the Midlothian Police Department plays a crucial role by providing investigative and supervisory support, will take the lead on the investigation into the attempted theft and subsequent damage to multiple vehicles at the auto park they are also active members providing staff and board operational guidance. Sheriff Brad Norman's cooperation with the Midlothian Police Department was commended by Chief Smith, who expressed his gratitude for the support in dealing with the aftermath of the incident.
