A traffic stop in East Germantown nearly turned deadly for a Philadelphia police officer after a suspect allegedly fired a gun at point-blank range. The incident occurred last night when a 45-year-old man was pulled over for expired registration plates on Morton Street, CBS News reports.
After being questioned, the suspect, whose identity has not been released, initially complied with the officers. However, he re-entered his vehicle and fled, leading police on a chase that ended on Mechanic Street. The suspect then ran on foot, armed with a firearm. According to FOX 29, he fired a single shot at officers but missed. The officers did not return fire and showed restraint.
"When the officers grabbed him and were actually taking him into custody, the suspect fired one shot from just inches away, fired one shot at the officer, but missed, and the officers were able to overpower him and take him into custody," Chief Inspector Scott Small told FOX 29 News. Police also found narcotics in his vehicle.
As the chase unfolded, it became clear that the suspect had tried to verify whether the registration matched the vehicle's paperwork before fleeing, as reported by 6abc. After his arrest, police recovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun, a spent shell casing, and the suspect’s phone.
The suspect faces several charges, including assault on an officer and weapon violations. His name has not been released.
