Officer wounds self during pursuit close to marathon in San Diego

SAN DIEGO» A San Diego police officer accidentally shot himself in the leg Sunday while pursuing a hitand-run suspect who pointed a weapon at officers and was eventually arrested on the roof of a parking structure near the finish line of an annual marathon, authorities said.

Officers fired at the woman but missed after she brandished the weapon at the parking facility at the edge of a downtown plaza shared by City Hall, police Chief David Nisleit told reporters.

The suspect, identified by police as 58-year-old Mona Elease Williams, threw the weapon from the top of the structure to the street below before being taken into custody, Nisleit said. It was unclear what type of weapon it was, but investigators were looking into whether it was a pellet gun that resembles the real thing, the chief said.

She was booked on a charge of felony resisting arrest, police said. It was not immediately known if Williams had an attorney who could comment on her behalf.

Police said they initially suspected the woman might have been linked to a kidnapping investigation in Chula Vista, but later Sunday a department spokesman said the two incidents appeared to be unrelated.

In announcing the woman’s arrest, police said the scene was secure and there was no threat to the area near the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, which brought thousands of people downtown along with a heavy police presence. Organizers said there were 27,000 registered runners in the marathon and half-marathon.

The incident began shortly before 11 a.m. as a call about a hit-and-run, officials said. A number of streets were closed after police chased the woman driving a white sedan into the parking structure.