Police officer fires weapon during stolen vehicle investigation
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating after a Columbus police officer fired their gun during a stolen car investigation Wednesday morning on the Far West Side.
The incident occurred around 3 a.m. Wednesday on the 700 block of Summerlin Way at the Parkview Apartments, located off Hilliard-rome Road between Manor Park Drive and Fisher Road.
Sgt. James Fuqua said officers were in the area and located a suspicious vehicle. It was not immediately known how the officers were dispatched to the area, but the officers located a vehicle that was determined to be stolen.
Fuqua said officers spoke with the sole male occupant of the vehicle, and at some point during the interaction, a Columbus officer fired their weapon. Fuqua said it was not known what prompted the officer to fire or if the suspect also discharged a weapon.
A short vehicle pursuit then took place, lasting about a quarter-mile, before the stolen vehicle crashed into several parked cars in the parking lot of a business on the 600 block of Hilliardrome Road.
Fuqua said the vehicle’s occupant was taken to an area hospital in stable condition. It was not clear if the man’s injuries were from crashing the vehicle or being shot, but he is expected to survive. No officers were injured.
As is Columbus policy for any shooting involving any law enforcement officer in the city, Ohio BCI is handling the investigation.
A portion of Hilliard-rome Road on the Far West was closed for several hours during the investigation before reopening late Wednesday morning.
Bethany Bruner is a reporter covering public safety, breaking news and police. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner