SALISBURY, Md.- A 21-year-old Somerset County man is under police guard at the Peninsula Regional Medical Center while being treated for a gunshot wound to the leg sustained after he allegedly drove his vehicle at Salisbury police officers following a pursuit early Sunday morning.
Traffic and criminal charges are pending against Tremont P. Wright of Princess Anne, while the incident is under investigation by the Maryland State Police.
According to MSP, two uniformed Salisbury police officers witnessed a southbound 2000 Ford Expedition cross the centerline, nearly missing their marked patrol car while traveling northbound on Route 13 near Main Street. MSP say the officers then turned around, activated their emergency lights and attempted to stop the vehicle.
MSP say the driver, later identified as Wright, failed to stop, continuing to drive erratically while almost hitting several pedestrians and failing to comply with multiple traffic signals in the process.
According to MSP, a third Salisbury police officer monitoring the pursuit positioned his vehicle to the far right of the road on Camden Avenue near South Boulevard. MSP say the vehicle Wright was driving in struck the officer's patrol car, disabling it. Despite his vehicle sustaining damage, MSP say Wright continued driving south on Camden Avenue.
Maryland State Police say Wright's vehicle swerved off the road and struck an embankment at Pine Bluff Road about a mile later, with the two officers that attempted to make the initial stop in pursuit.
According to the initial investigation, MSP say the two officers exited their patrol car while giving Wright verbal commands to surrender, at which time Wright accelerated his vehicle in reverse toward them.
MSP say that, in fear for their lives, both officers fired their department-issued Glock .45 caliber pistols toward Wright, whose vehicle then rammed the patrol car, coming to a rest.
According to MSP, the officers took Wright, the sole occupant of the vehicle, into custody and called for emergency medical services to respond. MSP say Wright was observed to be exhibiting signs of intoxication. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital.
Maryland State Police say none of the officers involved were injured but underwent hospital examination as a precaution. All three were subsequently released.
MSP say the vehicle Wright was driving is registered to his mother. State Police investigators are in the process of obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle, which MSP say is now in police custody and will be searched at a later time.
The Salisbury Police Department is conducting an administrative investigation into the incident. Both officers who fired their pistols have been placed on administrative leave, which is procedure in police-involved shootings.
MSP say the investigation is continuing.
No comments:
Post a Comment