By Timothy Gibbons
The Florida Times-Union
PALATKA, Fla. — A Palatka police officer shot during a traffic stop Saturday night was released from the hospital Sunday while the driver remains in the Putnam County Jail on a bevy of charges related to the incident.
Palatka Police Cpl. Pete Ruiz stopped Paul Savage around 8 p.m. Saturday because the man was driving recklessly on U.S. 17, police said. When Ruiz approached the driver’s door, Savage, 39, shot him in the left shoulder.
The driver then came out of the car still shooting, according to Maj. Keith Riddick of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, which is handling the investigation because Savage was stopped outside the Palatka city limits. Ruiz returned fire without hitting the suspect, who got back in his car and fled the scene.
Another Palatka police officer chased Savage for about 5 miles, at which point Savage left the car and ran into the woods, where he was tracked down by Palatka police officers - including a K-9 unit - and Putnam County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Ruiz was flown to Shands at the University of Florida. He was not available for comment Sunday, with Palatka Police Assistant Chief James Griffith saying he had not yet been debriefed about the incident.
The officer, in his 30s, has been on the force about six years, Griffith said, working a variety of jobs, including serving on a gang task force the past six months.
This is the first time such an incident has happened to a Palatka officer, Griffith said.
Savage was being held in the Putnam County Jail without bond Sunday night. He has been charged with attempted first degree murder, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, resisting arrest without violence and battery on a police dog.
“There was nothing that would give you any indication he would do something like that,” Riddick said, adding that Savage’s record was one of misdemeanors, none of them violent.
When Savage was stopped, Riddick said, he had an outstanding warrant from North Carolina on a charge of driving under the influence and was driving on a suspended license. He also appeared to be intoxicated, although tests were not performed.
Savage’s driver’s license is from Stuart, and he was in town for a job. He would not tell police who his employer is or where he was staying.
Copyright 2008 The Florida Times-Union