By Mike Glenn
Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON — A police officer who was wounded after a brief pursuit in southwest Houston was apparently shot in the arm by his partner, Houston police officials said.
“The preliminary indications are that this is going to be a ‘friendly fire’ incident,” said Victor Senties, a Houston police spokesman.
The officer was struck in the arm about 5 p.m. Thursday near the Sam Houston Parkway near West Bellfort.
The two-man HPD unit had earlier spotted a suspicious red Cadillac that had stopped in traffic along the access road. The car drove off as the officers moved in to investigate, police said.
“At one point, the vehicle was going the wrong way -completely disregarding the other motorists,” Senties said.
Police said the driver of the Cadillac pulled into the Pearl Inn, then abandoned the vehicle as he ran toward a nearby grove of trees. The car rolled forward before striking a sign in a field next to the motel.
The HPD officers followed the driver on foot into the woods as a backup officer arrived to assist. He heard a gunshot then saw the two officers with the driver in custody, authorities said.
Police said it appears the wounded officer’s partner fired a round that hit both men.
The driver of the Cadillac had a grazing gunshot wound to his back while the unidentified officer was shot in the arm.
Both officers were taken to the Texas Medical Center. The officer believed to have fired the errant round was complaining of chest pains and a shortness of breath.
“We still have not had the opportunity to speak to the officers,” Senties said.
The driver was taken to Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, police said.
It wasn’t clear why he fled from the officers, but authorities said there was a warrant for him from Dallas.
The investigation is continuing, police said.
Copyright 2015 the Houston Chronicle