Highlands deputy shoots Attacker

Emergency personnel respond to a shooting at a deputy’s house at 1700 N. Main Street. LifeFlight took the victim to the hospital.

HIGHLANDS – A Precinct 3 deputy constable was the object of an unusual personal attack last Saturday afternoon, in the driveway of his home.

The deputy answered a knock on the door of his home, to be confronted by an unknown male who asked if the patrol car in the driveway was his. The officer responded “yes” and then was asked to show his badge. The intruder said he was looking for a different officer.

Due to the strange way the man was acting, the officer went into his home, got his gun and badge. But he also called for backup.

At this point, the suspect entered his auto and attempted to run over the deputy, and to pin him against a fence.

Then he put the car in park, got out of the car, and threatened the deputy by saying he was going to cut him with a knife. As the suspect approached the officer, he refused to drop the knife, and the officer fired twice at him with his gun, hitting him in the abdomen. The man was subdued, and taken by LifeFlight to the hospital, reportedly in critical condition.

Authorities said that the man admitted to being under the influence of drugs and cocaine. However, a motive for the incident has not been established, and the whole event is under investigation.

The 29 year old officer, who is a five year veteran of the constable’s office, was placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.

North Main Street was closed for several hours on Saturday as authorities conducted the full investigation.