Off-Duty Cop Fires Shots At Catalytic Converter Thief Who Tried To Run Him Over
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An off-duty Chicago police officer fired his gun at two suspects Thursday morning, after he caught a man vandalizing a car in Norwood Park.
Police said the officer noticed a man cutting catalytic converters off a car in the 5500 block of North Neenah Avenue shortly before 6 a.m.
When the officer approached the suspect, the man jumped into a waiting car, and the getaway driver sped toward the officer, according to police. The officer fired his gun in response, but the suspects were not hit.
The 45-year-old officer injured his leg, either from getting hit by the car, or when he dove to get out of the way.
Neighbors said they heard at least four shots.
"I heard the gunshots, and then the car taking off," Kayla Newman said. "There's a lot of cops that live in this neighborhood. Obviously, it's right by the high school, so there's a lot of kids around here, too. So it's just … you never know, but it's not the neighborhood you would expect it to happen in."
Newman said, as far as she knows, her car was the only one vandalized.
Titus Tomesu said almost every other house on the block is home to a police officer.
"I'm glad he did his job. You know, maybe those guys will think twice about coming back," he said.
The officer was taken to Presence Resurrection Medical Center, where he was recovering late Thursday morning.
No one was in custody. Area North detectives were investigating.
