A Florida police officer was shot with his own weapon earlier this month during a violent struggle that was captured by the officer's body camera.
The confrontation happened shortly after 2 p.m. March 8 when a Tallahassee police officer responded to a trespassing incident at a hotel, according to the department. The suspect had returned to the hotel roughly two hours after the initial call, and an officer, recognizing him from the earlier incident, tried to place the man under arrest.
When the suspect wouldn't comply with commands to surrender, the officer used his baton and Taser to subdue the man, but those efforts were ineffectual. As the altercation escalated, the suspect grabbed and fired the officer's gun, wounding the officer's hand.
“Dispatch, he’s got my gun, he’s got my gun. I’m shot!” the officer can be heard in the video.
The suspect tried to flee on foot with the officer's gun following the shooting, but he was confronted by a secondary officer. Another struggle ensued, with the suspect again trying to disarm the responding officer.
Finally, the suspect was taken into custody with the help of off-duty deputies from Gadsden and Leon counties.
"There is no place for violent crime in this community, especially against the men and women who dedicate their lives to protect and serve this City," Chief Lawrence Revell said. "The officers acted with extreme bravery, and their efforts reflect TPD's high level of training and commitment to being able to safely arrest individuals."
The wounded officer is expected to recover from his injuries. The suspect was charged with felony attempted murder and held without bond.
