Police and sheriff’s deputies Saturday continued their search for an armed man, at one time on a bicycle, who shot and wounded a police officer in West Covina.
The shooting took place at 11:20 p.m. Friday, near the intersection of North Yaleton Avenue and Badillo Street, according to Deputy Mike Barraza of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
There was no immediate description of the suspect, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
“We’re doing a grid search right now. We do have a large area contained. That’s where we are right now. It’s a very active scene,” said Deputy Juanita Navarro of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
According to sheriff’s homicide detectives who are assisting West Covina police with the officer-involved shooting investigation, the wounded officer had “contacted” a man riding a bicycle. That contact led to a gunfight between the officer and the bicyclist, which left the officer wounded, according to Deputy Trina Schrader.
There’s no word yet on what led to the escalation after the contact was made by officers, or why the officer stopped the man in the first place.
The West Covina officer was transported to a trauma center with non-life- threatening injuries, Barraza said.
He added that the sheriff’s department was assisting West Covina police along with police from other municipalities in maintaining the perimeter around the search area and in looking for the suspect.
— City News Service