An early morning traffic stop in Akron turned violent when a suspect allegedly shot at two police officers. The incident occurred around 3:50 a.m. when the officers stopped a silver Ford F-150 XLT for a traffic violation at Vernon Odom Boulevard and Tyler Street, as reported by WKYC. The driver reportedly fired a shot when the officers exited their patrol car, prompting one officer to return fire before the suspect fled.
The suspect's vehicle, described as a silver Ford F-150 XLT with Ohio license plate PND-1016, may have traveled westbound on Vernon Odom Boulevard, then onto Interstate 77 northbound following the altercation, according to Cleveland.com. While no injuries were reported among the officers, the suspect's condition is not yet known. Akron Police Department Detective Bureau is seeking information at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip, and a statewide alert for the suspect has been issued.
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik expressed his relief that no officers were harmed during the encounter, saying, "The incident our officers faced this morning was incredibly dangerous," as stated in a Cleveland.com report. Malik encouraged the public to cooperate by offering any details that might aid in the investigation.
Brian Lucey, President of the Akron FOP, highlighted the perilous circumstances officers encounter, stating, "This is just another reminder of the terrible danger Akron Police Officers face every day. In a matter of seconds, this situation went from a normal traffic stop to an armed suspect trying to murder two police officers," according to Cleveland19. The officer who discharged their weapon in response to the threat is a four-year veteran of the department and will be placed on paid administrative leave, which is in line with department protocol.
The Akron Police Department is actively reviewing all available evidence, including body cameras and surveillance footage, to locate the suspect. The city's Office of Professional Standards and Accountability is also set to examine the incident. Akron Police Chief Brian Harding underscored the incident's gravity, affirming, "This incident underscores the risks and challenges our officers courageously face as they serve the community daily," citing the ongoing nature of the investigation and the department's commitment to apprehending the suspect, as provided in a statement obtained by Cleveland19.
