Detroit police officer opens fire after man tries to run him down

Detroit police say one of its officers was involved in a shooting Tuesday after a suspect tried to hit him with a car.

According to police, the officer whose identity is being withheld was forced to fire his weapon after a 22-year-old man attempted to run him over during a traffic stop. The car was pulled over just after midnight Tuesday on Steel Street near 7 mile for going over the speed limit and having tinted windows. 

Detroit Police Chief James Craig told Fox 2 that once the traffic stop was initiated, a suspect got out (of their vehicle) and one of the officers reported seeing a large bulge on one side. He looked at the officers and then that suspect got back in his vehicle.

"The vehicle began to back up at a high rate of speed in the direction of the officers," Chief James Craig said. "The officer, fearing for his life, fired four shots striking the vehicle. The suspect's vehicle then fled the location."

Police say the driver was not hit by gunfire and as he attempted to speed off the suspect crashed the car only a block down the road. Police arrested the suspect as he tried to take off on foot.

Detroit police say they have video of the incident which they are reviewing as part of the investigation. They are not releasing the video at this time.

"We don't see the vehicle, but we do hear the engine revving. You can also hear the officer saying, can we see your hands," Craig said.

After the crash police say they found a  semi-automatic hand gun, narcotics and cash in the suspect's possession. They are still trying to determine why things quickly escalated.

Chief Craig says it is very fortunate that his officers didn't get hurt even with the situation being such high risk.

With the death of officer Myron Jarrett only less than a week ago, killed while assisting a traffic stop, Chief Craig says members of DPD are counting their blessings.

"Ironically it was within two miles of where the officer was killed," Craig said.