By Joanna Putman
Police1
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Police Department has released body camera footage of a suspect ambushing and attacking an officer, WROC reported.
The video includes surveillance footage from a convenience store, which shows the suspect firing a handgun and driving away in a pickup truck. Body camera footage shows the officer conducting a traffic stop, but instead of pulling over, the suspect sped away and crashed into a telephone pole.
The suspect then jumped out of the truck and ran into a backyard. The officer pursued the man on foot, but at one point lost him in the darkness.
The video then shows the suspect jump out and attack the officer by tackling him and punching him in the head. While the officer was on his back on the ground, he found himself struggling to retain possession of his TASER, police said during a news conference.
During the struggle, the TASER was deployed and the officer was shocked, police said.
“Shoot me!” the suspect can be heard saying repeatedly in the video.
Police said the officer’s firearm had been dislodged from its holster, leading to a struggle between the officer and the suspect over the handgun. Five shots were fired during the altercation, with one bullet striking the suspect in the jaw.
Rochester Police Chief David Smith took a moment during the news conference to describe how dark the area was when the officer was being attacked.
“Close your eyes for a second. Think about the pitch black. Now picture yourself with your eyes closed lying on your back fighting for your life over a handgun with someone on top of you,” Smith said.
Other officers arrived on the scene, called emergency services and attempted to treat the suspect’s wounds. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The officer was treated for a concussion, burns from his TASER and bruising.