Police on the hunt for wounded burglary suspect shot by HPD officer

by Kevin Peters / 11 News

Posted on November 9, 2009 at 7:26 AM

Updated Monday, Nov 9 at 7:40 AM

HOUSTON—Investigators on Monday were looking for a burglary suspect who was shot during a struggle with a Houston police officer. It all happened near the intersection of Imperial Valley and Seminar in north Houston.

Officers initially responded to a burglary call at an apartment complex around 12:30 a.m. When they arrived, the renter gave officers a description of the suspect.

As one of the officers drove off from the scene, he spotted a man walking down the street that matched the suspect’s description. Investigators said the officer stopped his vehicle, got out of his patrol car and pulled out his gun. The officer yelled out several commands, but the suspect ignored them, according to police.

"The suspect (then) produced a pistol," explained Kese Smith, a spokesman with the Houston Police Department. "The officer was close enough that he grabbed the suspect’s weapon. The two of them began to struggle, and during that struggle the officer’s weapon discharged one time, we believe striking the suspect."

But police said the suspect ran off, in spite of his injury. K-9 units and a helicopter searched the surrounding area, which includes several large apartment complexes. Police called off the search two hours later after not finding the man.

Officers were checking hospitals to see if the suspect sought medical attention for the gunshot wound.