Man allegedly with slingshot led police on pursuit through Bakersfield
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to clarify details of the incident.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A man allegedly armed with a slingshot is hospitalized after officers opened fire in south Bakersfield, police said Wednesday.
A Bakersfield police officer stopped a vehicle on Truxtun Avenue and Oak Street as a regular traffic stop. BPD says the driver exited the vehicle, pulled out a, “sling type” weapon and started hurling objects at the officer.
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The suspect sped away with police in pursuit, the chase came to a stop at Pine and Dracena streets where the officer fired, officials said. The suspect was not struck by gunfire police said at the scene and in a release. The suspect entered his vehicle again and took police on another pursuit which ended at South Martin Luther King Boulevard and Belle Terrace.
A stopped vehicle at South Martin Luther King Boulevard and Belle Terrace had its door still open as police surrounded the area. Multiple shell casings were visible in the roadway.
“The only weapon that we have knowledge of at this time was the sling type weapon I would describe it as a ‘David-and-Goliath’ type slingshot,” said Sgt. Keith Schlecht.
The unidentified suspect was arrested and was treated for minor injuries during the incident. The officers involved in the shooting are on administrative leave, pending further investigation. The officers were not identified.
The departmental investigation into the shooting is underway.
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