DENVER | Denver police are trying to determine how a prisoner who was in custody got a gun and opened fire on a police officer while being taken to a district police station.
Another police officer returned fire, wounding the suspect, who was taken to a hospital in critical condition. No officers were injured.
Sgt. Steve Warneke, a department spokesman, said officers arrested the man for drug charges and a felony warrant, and they were taking him to the station. Police are still investigating at what point he fired and how he was able to fire several shots before he was wounded.
“We’re not sure if he was in the process of getting out of the car or had just opened the door. We believe he was in handcuffs,” Warneke said.
Police Chief Robert White said another officer shot the suspect. The car was in the police station’s parking lot, and there were a number of police officers inside the building at the time.
“The officer who fired the shots did what had to be done in order to save lives” Warneke said.
Warneke said officers are typically required to search a suspect at the time of arrest, but “there are things that can make that tricky,” including the size of a weapon that can be easily hidden.
In this case, Warneke said, “there are a couple scenarios that are possible,” but he declined to elaborate.
I am very grateful no officers were hurt. This is a frightening situation. Be safe. Those bad guys don’t care about you, themselves or any other body.