By Frank Stanfield
Daily Commercial, Leesburg, Fla.
LEESBURG, Fla. — Police are looking for a man who shot at an officer Monday night.
The incident happened at 10:37 p.m. when Officer Travonte Kitchen, 25, stopped a man on a bicycle going north on U.S. Highway 441 because he did not have lights on his bike. The area is near Herlong Park and the Cutrale citrus plant.
Silent dash cam video shows the patrol car coming up behind the bicyclist, who was wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt. The man pulls his hand out of his pocket and holds up his left arm as if trying to motion the car around him. He then puts his left hand on his left leg and keeps pedaling. He holds up his left arm again as he passes a blue hospital sign. Finally, he pulls off onto the shoulder and straddles the bike briefly before letting it fall to the ground.
The police report says Kitchen kept telling him to show his hands.
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The bicyclist holds both hands up, then reaches behind him with both hands to pull up his drooping pants. He raises his left arm again, all the while fumbling around with right hand in his right pocket. Suddenly, he sprints across the front of the police car, just a few feet away.
The video shows the man raising his right hand and firing his weapon. The video shows a spray of dust at his feet, apparently where a bullet from Kitchen’s gun hits the ground.
The radio traffic, which starts out as crisp and routine, is especially dramatic.
Kitchen almost immediately asks for backup, and there is some back and forth about where he is located.
Within seconds Kitchen shouts: “Shots fired, Leesburg!”
There is some garble but it sounds like, "...looks like he’s got a gun!”
The dispatcher asks for his location..
“He’s at lake by Cutrale. He’s taking off.”
“Description?” the dispatcher asks.
“Black pants, gray shirt, sweatshirt.”
Kitchen then explains that the suspect crossed the highway on foot toward Lake Street and washeaded toward Main Street. He gave chase in his patrol car.
Police have released photos that show at least one round going through the patrol car’s windshield.
“The officer immediately returned fire, however it is currently unknown if the suspect was struck,” the department said in a press release.
Police did not find blood or any other sign that the man had been hit.
Kitchen fired more than once. The suspect fired either one or two times.
The man took off on foot, crossing U.S. 441 and going south to Lake Street toward Main Street. Kitchen gave chase in his patrol car but could not catch him.
Law enforcement officers from several agencies showed up to assist. K-9 units from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Leesburg Police Department joined the search, along with the sheriff’s helicopter and crime scene unit.
The bicycle was recovered at the scene. The bullet that hit the patrol car struck the driver’s side near the windshield wiper, then ricocheted onto the floorboard.
Police say the search is continuing. “We’ve got some pretty good leads,” said Leesburg Police Lt. Joe Iozzi.
Police had Leesburg Regional Medical Center lock its doors from about 10:45 p.m. to 1 a.m., according to hospital officials.
Investigators are asking anyone with information to call police at 728-9862 or CrimeLine at 1-800-423-TIPS.
©2017 Daily Commercial, Leesburg, Fla.