By The Associated Press
SPOKANE — An off-duty Spokane police officer shot a man early today who had stolen his truck, police said.
The 20-year-old victim was taken to a hospital, where his injuries were not life-threatening and he was in stable condition, police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe said.
Officer James “Jay” Olsen, a 16-year veteran, was placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.
DeRuwe said Olsen was leaving a downtown bar when he saw his truck being stolen by a man. Olsen and a friend chased the man in another car to the Peaceful Valley neighborhood west of downtown. After a foot chase and confrontation, the man was shot at about 3:40 a.m., DeRuwe said.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Department has been asked to investigate the shooting, Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said.