5 years ago
An undercover Prince George's County police officer was shot and wounded Tuesday during what authorities said was a traffic stop that turned into a shootout. Three suspects were under arrest, including the alleged triggerman, who police said was also shot. County Police Chief Melvin C. High said the officer and three colleagues were part of the Special Investigations Unit. They became suspicious of a car at Route 197 and South Laurel Drive at around 11 a.m. "As they made that stop on that vehicle at least one of the individuals bailed out of the vehicle and began to fire at the officers," High told reporters gathered at Prince George's County Hospital Center in Cheverly, where the officer had surgery for a bullet to the chest. According to the chief, police returned fire. The gunman was shot and wounded. He was also taken to P.G. Hospital and underwent surgery, though authorities declined to say where the bullet hit. Two other suspects barricaded themselves in an apartment, but High said they were later taken into custody without more gunfire. "They were out looking for any individuals committing crimes," said Maj. Tom Connoley, commander of the Sixth District police station, who is in charge of the four man team. Police declined to be specific about what made officers suspicious enough to stop the car. However, they did say the unit has done considerable narcotics work and other types of surveillance. Authorities did not identify the wounded officer, but said he was 35 and is an 18-year veteran of the county force. Lance Cpl. William Waddell, a U.S. Marine, was at work in Washington, D.C., when his wife called to say police commandeered their apartment for a stakeout. "She saw everything. She heard shots. She saw a guy go down, she saw people running. She called the police, but apparently they were already involved," Waddell said. His wife, Kia, and their children, ages 4 and 2 months, were not hurt. By mid-afternoon, investigators were still talking to the other officers involved, as well as civilian witnesses. They were also collecting evidence from the car and apartment involved. "We have a number of people that are driving around with guns and are willing to shoot not only officers, but our citizens," Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson said at the hospital.
He vowed that this type of situation would not be allowed to continue.
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Written By The Associated Press
