Officer Fires At Suspect After Being Hit By Car
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A police officer in Dallas was injured on Sunday night after being tossed onto the hood of a vehicle being driven by a suspect who was thought to be making a drug sale. The incident first started at around 10:45 p.m. along Empire Central Drive, just to the east of Interstate-35E.
According to authorities, the officer was assisting a federal agency in the search for a suspect. While on that call, the officer, identified as Michael Dewilde, noticed a drug sale at a nearby hotel parking lot and approached the suspect, who was not tied to that federal case. The suspect, identified as Joel Allen, 34, hopped into his car and hit the officer with his vehicle. The officer flew into the air and landed on the hood of the car. While on the hood of the car, Officer Dewilde was able to grab his gun and fire several shots at Allen before he was thrown off the hood.
Allen continued driving for about three miles before he eventually crashed near the intersection of Interstate-35E and Inwood Road. He was taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas with a gunshot wound to the chest.
Police say Dewilde felt forced to shoot after being hit.
"In his mind, he's trying to get the car stopped, so he can get off the hood, and stop the danger to himself and others, so he takes his weapon and does whatever he can. That is a deadly force confrontation, " said DPD Deputy Chief Gil Garza.
Officer Dewilde's injuries are not life threatening. He was also taken to Parkland Hospital and treated for broken bones and released. A spokesman for the Dallas Police Department stated that the officer is lucky to be alive.
At last check, Allen was in critical condition. He has a history of drug-related arrests in the Houston area.
Authorities say police were at the location looking for murder suspect, Jose Reyes. Police say he killed a woman while she was on the phone with 911. He has not been caught.
This is the 17th officer involved shooting of the year. In 14 of those cases, the suspect has either been injured or killed.
This is the first officer-involved shooting to fall under the department's new protocol, where the officer will not be on their usual assignment for 30 days and is forced to undergo rigorous counseling.
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