FORT WAYNE, IN (Indiana's NewsCenter) --- A Fort Wayne police spokesperson says a patrol officer who shot and injured an armed suspect Wednesday during a foot chase demonstrated a textbook response.
The officer who popped off two shots during the chase, is Jason Fuhrman, a four and a half year veteran who has earned two letters of commendation and a letter of reprimand and short suspension related to vehicle mishaps on the job in 2008.
22-year old Carleon Ragsdale was struck by one bullet in the side, and was treated and released.
Court records indicate he ran from police because he didn't want to get caught with a handgun following a previous domestic battery conviction.
Officer Fuhrman and a second officer in the chase both say Ragsdale pointed his weapon at them during the pursuit.
Department spokesperson Mike Joyner says evidence suggests Fuhrman felt his life was threatened and that no innocent bystander's safety was placed in danger by his decision to employ deadly force.
Officer Mike Joyner/Fort Wayne Police Department: " Law enforcement is not open and shut. I mean, it's not like Hollywood portrays it. It's a lot of information that is processed in a relatively short period of time. Why did the one officer not use his weapon? Apparently he felt for whatever reasons he was not in a shoot situation.”
Joyner explained that officers are trained to evaluate their surroundings to make sure no other vehicles or pedestrians could be struck by an errant bullet.
Video from a nearby surveillance camera has been turned over to investigators.
Indiana’s NewsCenter has requested a copy, but county police have not gotten back to us.
Citilink bus service administrators say they employ an off-duty police officer to provide security part-time at the Superior Street bus hut, but that the officer was not scheduled to work at the time the shooting went down.
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