4 officers injured – 1 critically – after responding to robbery call

Police on scene of Albuquerque incident - YouTube screenshot (courtesy of Associated Press)

Four officers injured – one critically – after suspect opens fire on cops responding to a robbery call

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ALBUQUERQUE, NM – According to reports, four police officers in Albuquerque were injured, one of them critically, after they responded to a robbery on August 19th and were fired upon. Officials have confirmed that a suspect is in custody and that additional individuals were detained during the onset of the investigation.

Very few details have been released regarding the incident, but here are the details known thus far.

Officials say that three Albuquerque Police officers were shot and one other officer was injured by shrapnel while responding to a robbery call near the Dutch Bros coffee shop on Juan Tabo.

One of the officers that responded was reportedly shot in the base of their neck, right above their bulletproof vest, and was rushed over to an area hospital and was last cited as being in critical condition.

Authorities say that a second officer was shot in the forearm and is currently in stable condition whereas a third officer was shot in the chest but was struck in their bulletproof vest. The officer reportedly injured by shrapnel sustained said injury to their eye.

A witness, Estaban Ortiz, who spoke with KOB4 said that he’d seen two individuals with backpacks running by his vehicle while he was in line at the Dutch Bros, saying that police were reportedly yelling at one of these individuals to ‘drop the gun’:

“He fell down, he had extended magazines, with what appeared to be a 9mm pistol. He unloaded the first one completely. After he fell on the floor, he took out that unloaded one, pulled another one out, another extended magazine, popped it back in, and as he was being shot on the floor – he kept returning fire.”

Authorities have confirmed that they have the suspected shooter in custody and other individuals are being detained as the investigation moves forward. Officials have not identified the suspected shooter, nor the officers injured during the incident.

The suspected shooter was reportedly injured during the critical incident, according to reports.

Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina afforded the following statement on August 19th regarding the incident:

“Officers who were injured, their families have been notified and they have family members with them. We want to assure all of the other families of officers who are on scene and haven’t been able to reach out to their families, assure them that the officer who was injured, their families have been contacted.”

Bernalillo County District Attorney Raul Torrez noted that the investigation is still ongoing, and that they’re looking to witnesses who may’ve been nearby to contact police to assist with the investigation:

“A lot of times there is information that passersby may have had, other people in local businesses may have video, and so I know there are going to officers canvassing this area, but if you saw anything, if you were in the area of the crime, please report that to 242-COPS.”

“It’s incredibly important that we get that information to these investigators as quickly as possible, that’s what’s going to enable these individuals to be apprehended and brought to justice.”

This is an ongoing investigation.

Please follow Law Enforcement Today as we continue to gather further insight into this developing case.

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Officials: Suspect arrested after opening fire on police chief, shooting him in hand and ear leading to standoff

(Originally published August 19th, 2021)

YARDLEY, PA – Authorities say that a 24-year-old suspect has been arrested following a standoff earlier in August where the Yardley Borough Police chief was reportedly shot in the hand and ear during the incident.

On August 18th, Bucks County probation officers had called in for backup regarding a suspect, identified as 24-year-old Colin Petroziello. Two probation officers went to check on the suspect at approximately 11:30 a.m. at the Yardley Commons apartments.

Apparently, the visit turned into some sort of argument, which led to the probation officers calling local police for assistance.

Yardley Police Chief Joseph D. Kelly had responded to the residence, as it is reportedly common for him to personally go to call within the small borough.

When Chief Kelly entered the apartment, authorities say he was shot by the suspect who was wielding a shotgun at the time. Both the police chief and the suspect’s mother were able to get out of the apartment without further injury, whereas Petroziello reportedly remained inside.

Locals at the time were instructed to shelter in place while police dealt with the situation.

The situation morphed into a scenario where SWAT and other law enforcement officers responded, as the suspect remained holed up inside after the shooting. After an hours’ long standoff, law enforcement broke into the apartment and took the suspect into custody. Authorities also noted that two other firearms, in addition to the shotgun, were retrieved from the suspect’s home.

Lower Makefield Township Police Chief Kenneth Coluzzi remarked on the shooting of Chief Kelly, saying that he’s “lucky to be alive”:

“He’s absolutely extremely lucky to be alive. He never thought that he would encounter a shotgun being pulled and fired at him in this situation.”

Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub stated that he personally spoke with Chief Kelly following the incident, saying that he “is being treated for injuries but he is being treated very well” and that the chief “is in good and stable condition.”

Chief Kelly is expected to be released from the hospital in the coming days.

Petroziello has since been charged with attempted murder of a police officer, several counts of aggravated assault, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment, prohibited possessor, and possession of an instrument of crime with intent.

This is an ongoing investigation.

Please follow Law Enforcement Today as we continue to gather further insight into this developing case.

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Suspect captured! Police officer in critical condition after being ambushed while serving an arrest warrant

(Originally published August 17th, 2021)

MODESTO, CA – A Modesto Police officer is in critical condition after having been shot by a suspect while serving a late-night search warrant earlier in August. Authorities have confirmed that the suspected shooter was taken into custody.

Authorities say the chain of events that led up to the search warrant shooting started at approximately 10:00 p.m. on August 14th when an officer had spotted someone on a motorcycle recklessly driving in the area of West Orangeburg and Enslen Avenues.

The officer attempted to pull the driver of the motorcycle over, but the driver reportedly fled.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department’s assisted with tracking down the driver of the motorcycle, with the department’s helicopter spotting and following the suspect to a residence within the 3100-block of East Orangeburg Avenue.

After police had arrived on the scene of the home where the alleged reckless driver went inside of, officials say that the suspect came out of the house and surrendered – seemingly without incident.

While taking the suspect into custody, officers had searched the suspect and found that he was in possession of narcotics that investigators believe were for the purposes of sale – thus, authorities opted to obtain a search warrant for the house he came out of.

At approximately 11:30 p.m., police obtained a warrant for the home and made their way inside of it. However, as soon as officers entered the home, officials say that 42-year-old Jesse James Brooks open fire on officers.

One officer, identified as Officer Michael Rokaitis, was shot and injured during the incident. Officials say that he was transported to an area hospital and underwent surgery. Officer Rokaitis was last cited as being in critical but stable condition following surgery.

Police say that officers on scene during the serving of the warrant returned fire on Brooks, where he was non-fatally injured. Brooks reportedly received treatment at an area hospital and has since been released to police custody.

Brooks has since been charged with three counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, with an added firearm enhancement, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of prohibited person in possession of ammunition.

Bail for the defendant has been set at $4.5 million.

This is an ongoing investigation. 

Please follow Law Enforcement Today as we continue to gather further insight into this developing case. 

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About The Author

Gregory Hoyt is an I.T. Marketing and Sales professional based out in Sierra Vista, Arizona. While being a staunch and outspoken advocate of law enforcement and first responders, Gregory Hoyt also has the experience of having spent nearly 5 years in prison as well. Since then, he's used his unique perspective to offer support and commentary about the criminal justice system. When not working or combating bad ideas, Hoyt also leisurely studies economics, history, and law.

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