Aurora cop fired his gun but didn’t hit armed man during arrest

AURORA | An Aurora police officer shot at a man wanted on a parole violation and missed Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect, Michael Smith, 31,  was hospitalized with minor injuries unrelated to the gunshot, Aurora police spokeswoman Officer Diana Cooley said.

Cooley said officers tried to arrest a white male wanted for a parole violation around 1 p.m. outside the Montview Bar and Grill.

When officers approached the man, he pulled out a gun and tried to flee, Cooley said.

Officers used a Taser on the man and eventually took him into custody, she said.

In a statement Tuesday evening police said Smith had previously been arrested on kidnapping and motor vehicle theft charges.

Police did not release the name of the officer who fired his weapon. Cooley said the officer is on paid administrative leave while police investigate, standard practice when an officer fires their weapon.

Several police officers and crime scene investigators were outside the bar at East Montview Boulevard and Nome Street throughout the afternoon gathering evidence.