Officer faces inquiry in Fort Smith shooting.

FORT SMITH — A Fort Smith police officer has been suspended pending an investigation after he shot and wounded a man in the leg early Sunday during a struggle inside the man’s car during which the officer believed the man was reaching under his seat for a weapon, according to a Fort Smith police news release.

There was no weapon under the seat and police don’t know what the driver may have been reaching for, police spokesman Sgt. Daniel Grubbs said.

The release stated that officer Brandon Djordjevic shot Anthony Price, 31, in the leg as Djordjevic hung partially inside the passenger window of the car Price was driving, and struggled to stop him from driving off.

Djordjevic was suspended with pay pending completion of an investigation of the shooting, according to department policy, the news release stated.

Price was recuperating in a Fort Smith hospital Monday. Grubbs said he would not identify the hospital Price was in because of concerns for the safety of the hospital staff.

Upon Price’s release, the release stated, Price will be held on charges of aggravated assault, possession of cocaine, parole violation, driving while intoxicated, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

According to the news release, officers were dispatched to the Fifth Season Inn hotel at 2219 S. Waldron Road at 3:37 a.m. Sunday on a complaint of several intoxicated persons in the parking lot refusing to leave after a party. When officers arrived, the crowd began to disperse.

Djordjevic attempted to stop the vehicle Price was driving through the parking lot, the release stated. He approached the vehicle on the passenger side and Price attempted to flee in the vehicle. Djordjevic lunged in through the passenger side window and shifted the vehicle transmission into park.

Djordjevic and Price struggled over the gear shift, with the car lurching forward and stopping several times while Djordjevic continuing to hang partially inside the passenger side window, the release stated.

At one point, the release stated, Price began reaching under seat and Djordjevic heard the sound of something metallic and feared Price was reaching for a weapon. Djordjevic pulled out his gun and fired once into Price’s leg.

Price was taken into custody by several officers after continuing to struggle, according to the news release.