Police Chief William McManus is praising the officers involved in that standoff on Loop 410 last night that ended with a suspect shot to death, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Much of Loop 410 was closed due to the investigation, but it was reopened about midnight."There were no crashed caused by this," McManus said. "The officers created a buffer between the traffic and the bike."
McManus says it all began when a man robbed the Targer store on Loop 410 near McCullough, and made his getaway on a stolen B-M-X style bicycle.Police were called and gave chase, pursuing the man onto Loop 410, where he was boxed in by three officers.
"The three officers were trying to subdue him, and he pulled out a knife," he said. "One of the officers suffered a laceration."
At that point, McManus said the officers did what they are trained to do."Once he pulled out the knife, one officer backed off, wound up firing one shot to the abdomen. The officer is at the hosptial, the suspect was DOA on the highway."
He says the officer is on administrative leave, which is common in shooting team situations.
McManus says the man slashed the officer after officers had taken him down.
McManus was incredulous when he was asked by a reporter if the situation could have been handled 'differently.'
"Differently? In what way?" he asked. "Let him go?"
He said the officers did exactly what they were supposed to do.
He says the officer who did the shooting is a 15 year veteran of the police department.
"The whole incident was dangerous from start to finish," McManus said. "It was dangerous in the Target, it was dangerous on the highway, it was dangerous when the officers were trying to pursue him."