FLINT, MI—A Flint police officer’s urgent radio transmission — “I’m hit” — came seconds after he stepped from his patrol vehicle, ordered an armed man to drop his weapon and was struck by gunfire.

Those details have emerged from a more than 50-page Michigan State Police investigation, secured by MLive-The Flint Journal through a Freedom of Information Act request, which has provided the clearest account yet of the March 31 shooting that left Flint police officer Michael Catlin seriously injured.

Surveillance video, witness statements and interviews reviewed by investigators indicated that Delon Savage, 47, was allegedly armed and assaulting a female victim on Colonial Drive when Catlin arrived and ordered him to drop the gun.

Detectives wrote in their reports that the officer appeared to be struck almost immediately as gunfire erupted.

Neighboring surveillance footage reviewed by investigators captured the moments leading up to the shooting. A woman could be heard screaming before a struggle unfolded near a white Chevrolet Impala parked on Colonial Drive.

Other witnesses and the victim later told police that Savage was attempting to force her into his vehicle against her will, according to police reports.

One witness told police Savage had “snatched her up out of the house” and was trying to “stuff her in the car,” according to police reports.

Savage’s listed attorney, Matthew Samuels, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday, Aug. 7.

Colonial Drive scene

MSP investigators described two scenes in incident reports recalling the events of March 31: the Colonial Drive shooting and Savage’s arrest on Tilden Street near Saginaw Street.

According to the MSP investigation, Catlin arrived at the Colonial Drive scene at about 9:26 p.m. that day.

Surveillance footage captured the officer yelling, “Get on the f*****g ground.”

A muzzle flash is then seen from near the suspect vehicle, according to police reports.

MSP investigators reported the officer appeared to be struck at nearly the same moment he began to return fire.

The officer is seen taking cover behind his vehicle in footage reviewed after the shooting, according to police reports. Additional police units arrived at about 9:27 p.m. That’s when the suspect entered the Impala and fled.

The wounded officer was taken to the hospital by another responding officer, Flint Police Chief Terence Green said previously.

Pursuit and arrest

A pursuit led police to Tilden Street off Saginaw Street on the city’s North side.

Muzzle flashes could be seen coming from the driver’s side of the moving vehicle as several police vehicles pursued him, according to police reports. A patrol vehicle’s camera caught the suspect attempting to exit the Impala while it was still in motion.

He was seen falling to the ground while attempting to exit the moving vehicle. Savage then began running north from the vehicle and was struck by a patrol car, according to police reports.

Investigators determined Savage was the sole occupant of the Impala, according to body camera and dash camera footage.

At that point, the suspect was taken into custody and transported to Hurley Medical Center.

Interviews

When police interviewed the involved parties, the victim told investigators she had “no doubt” that Savage had fired shots in the exchange, according to police reports.

She heard a voice, then gunfire before running and hiding behind a truck as the Colonial Drive exchange of gunfire ensued.

She alleged Savage broke into her home, pointed a gun at her and repeatedly threatened her. She was seeking a personal protective order against him, according to police reports.

Another witness helped move the wounded officer for transport to the hospital.

The male witness said Catlin was identifiable as a police officer and was wearing his police vest, badge and duty gear.

The same male witness used his shirt as a makeshift tourniquet in an attempt to stop the bleeding, according to police reports.

He said the victim was yelling, “Stop! Please stop!” as Savage was allegedly attempting to put her in his vehicle.

The male witness, interviewed by police afterward, said Savage was “trying to stuff her in that b****. He on some kidnapping s***.”

The witness told police he helped out because the officer was just doing his job and didn’t deserve to get shot, according to police reports.

Catlin was interviewed by MSP on April 16.

He said he had been looking for Savage because of authorized warrants and saw him armed and assaulting the victim as he arrived on Colonial Drive.

Catlin told investigators he believed the woman could have been kidnapped or killed if he didn’t intervene.

More than a dozen 9mm shell casings were found at the Colonial Drive scene near the suspect vehicle. More than two dozen casings were found near the officer’s vehicle, according to police reports.

Blood evidence and a bullet hole in a pickup truck were also observed.

Police recovered two weapons at the Tilden Street scene: a Smith & Wesson SD9 pistol from the suspect’s vehicle and a Glock 45 handgun near Savage after he was struck, according to police reports.

What’s next

Flint Sgt. Paul Spann said Catlin is “recovering well” from the injuries he suffered in the shooting.

Savage was arraigned June 18 on charges including assault with intent to murder, assaulting a police officer causing serious impairment, unlawful imprisonment, domestic violence, discharge of a firearm from a vehicle causing injury and multiple firearms offenses.

The case is set for a review of a competency examination on Sept. 23 before Genesee District Court Judge Jennifer J. Manley.

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