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March 01--ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis police officer was shot with his own gun in a scuffle with a suspect early Tuesday, police say.
The 30-year-old officer suffered a graze wound near the top of his leg, police say. He was treated at a local hospital and released.
The suspect, Vernon Lamont Collins, was arrested a short time later. Police said he had the officer's gun when he was caught. Collins, 34, was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, assault, two counts of armed criminal action, disarming a police officer while the officer was performing official duties and resisting arrest.
Collins was held on $500,000 bond.
The officer was shot at about 1 a.m. Tuesday in the 5200 block of St. Louis Avenue.
He was on patrol alone when he got a call for a prowler trying to break into the home on St. Louis Avenue. When he got there, the officer saw a man outside who had been stabbed several times. The officer learned the suspect was still inside.
The suspect ran out, and the officer chased him. In a struggle, the man was able to get the officer's department-issued handgun away from him. The suspect fired once, then ran off.
The injured officer used his radio to call for help.
Police say they arrested Collins at Norwood Court and Norwood Drive.
The 52-year-old man who was stabbed was in critical condition at an area hospital, police say.
A police spokeswoman said police had not been able to interview the stabbing victim yet, so they don't know if the initial disturbance call was about a burglary or something else.
The officer who was injured has been with the department for less than two years.
Check back at STLtoday.com for updates.
