A Lawrence County sheriff’s deputy and a Mitchell police officer were shot and airlifted to a hospital early Sunday morning after a suspect fled a traffic stop.
The violence unfolded around 3:15 am in Mitchell, Indiana. A sheriff’s deputy pulled over a vehicle in the 4800 block of SR 37 for a moving violation, Indiana State Police said. A second deputy sheriff, his K9 partner and a Mitchell police officer arrived on scene to assist.
A Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department vehicle.
(Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department)
The K9 alerted officers to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle that officers found after a search, state police said. Officers attempted to arrest the suspect who fled on foot, running west across SR 37 into a grassy area.
Officers reached out to the suspect, but he resisted, state police said. A scuffle ensued, and the suspect drew a handgun and fired at the officers. Two officers were hit and at least one of them was able to return fire, wounding the suspect.
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The injured officers were transported to a local hospital by ambulance before being airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital. The suspect was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, state police said.
State police said both officers received non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Later Sunday they were identified as Joshua Rhoades, a five-year veteran of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, and Christian Anderson, a three-year veteran of the Mitchell Police Department.
The driver was stopped in Mitchell, Indiana, near Indianapolis.
(FoxNews)
Anderson remains hospitalized in stable condition. Rhoades was released from the hospital later Sunday, state police said.
State police identified the suspect as Anthony Richmond, 29, of West Baden Springs, Indiana. He received emergency medical help at the scene from officers before being loaded into an ambulance.
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The officers involved were equipped with body cameras and detectives are reviewing the footage, state police said.
