Two officers shot in Arnold, suspect in custody
ARNOLD • Two police officers suffered non-life-threatening wounds when they were hit in the face with bird shot near Fox Elementary School on Friday afternoon.
Arnold police Detective Lt. James Jones said a man, 52, was taken into custody after the shooting, which happened about 2:38 p.m. as officers were responding to a call for a “disturbance” in the 2100 block of Plaza Drive at Jeffco Estates.
Chief Robert Shockey later identified the officers who were shot as Cpl. Jason Gorenstein, a 19-year veteran of the department, and Officer John Palme, who has spent nine years with Arnold but more than 30 years in law enforcement.
“We were very fortunate today that we didn’t lose two officers,” Shockey said.
The chief said police had been called to the same house that morning for a disturbance that involved the man and teenage children. That incident ended quietly.
When police arrived for the second call, the man was outside of his mobile home when the officers pulled up, Shockey said.
“As they were approaching the residence, the suspect fired a shot into the air,” he said.
The man then fired two shots at the officers, Shockey said. “The officers took cover behind a car, and they got hit in the face with the shots,” he said.
The officers did not return fire, he said.
After the shooting, the man went into his home, smoked a cigarette and then came out and surrendered, Shockey said.
The man was taken to a hospital after his arrest but was released to police custody by the time Shockey spoke at a press conference at City Hall at 5:30 p.m.
He said both of the officers had been struck in the forehead and one in the shoulder. One may need surgery, the chief said, but both are expected to make full recoveries.
“I am proud of them,” he said. “They did a great job. They are doing well. They are in good spirits.”
Jones said police found a long gun at the scene. The suspect is expected to be charged soon with assault and armed criminal action.
Fox Elementary School was briefly on lockdown during the incident.
Emir Muhic, 21, who lives on nearby Dudler Drive, said he heard two shots and started running in that direction. He jumped a back fence into the trailer park area and encountered a man with a 12-gauge shotgun painted in camouflage.
“He told me to go inside, he kept telling me that,” Muhic said.
He said another man, a neighbor with a concealed carry permit, then went into the scene with pistol drawn. He said the neighbor and the gunman threatened each other but neither fired shots.
“[The suspect] then walked back to his house and sat down and waited for the police,” Muhic said.
The last time an officer with the Arnold department was shot was Oct. 22, 1976. That shooting left Officer John LeCompte mortally wounded. He died 29 days later.
ARNOLD • Two police officers suffered non-life-threatening wounds when they were hit in the face with bird shot near Fox Elementary School on Friday afternoon.
Arnold police Detective Lt. James Jones said a man, 52, was taken into custody after the shooting, which happened about 2:38 p.m. as officers were responding to a call for a “disturbance” in the 2100 block of Plaza Drive at Jeffco Estates.
Chief Robert Shockey later identified the officers who were shot as Cpl. Jason Gorenstein, a 19-year veteran of the department, and Officer John Palme, who has spent nine years with Arnold but more than 30 years in law enforcement.
“We were very fortunate today that we didn’t lose two officers,” Shockey said.
The chief said police had been called to the same house that morning for a disturbance that involved the man and teenage children. That incident ended quietly.
When police arrived for the second call, the man was outside of his mobile home when the officers pulled up, Shockey said.
“As they were approaching the residence, the suspect fired a shot into the air,” he said.
The man then fired two shots at the officers, Shockey said. “The officers took cover behind a car, and they got hit in the face with the shots,” he said.
The officers did not return fire, he said.
After the shooting, the man went into his home, smoked a cigarette and then came out and surrendered, Shockey said.
The man was taken to a hospital after his arrest but was released to police custody by the time Shockey spoke at a press conference at City Hall at 5:30 p.m.
He said both of the officers had been struck in the forehead and one in the shoulder. One may need surgery, the chief said, but both are expected to make full recoveries.
“I am proud of them,” he said. “They did a great job. They are doing well. They are in good spirits.”
Jones said police found a long gun at the scene. The suspect is expected to be charged soon with assault and armed criminal action.
Fox Elementary School was briefly on lockdown during the incident.
Emir Muhic, 21, who lives on nearby Dudler Drive, said he heard two shots and started running in that direction. He jumped a back fence into the trailer park area and encountered a man with a 12-gauge shotgun painted in camouflage.
“He told me to go inside, he kept telling me that,” Muhic said.
He said another man, a neighbor with a concealed carry permit, then went into the scene with pistol drawn. He said the neighbor and the gunman threatened each other but neither fired shots.
“[The suspect] then walked back to his house and sat down and waited for the police,” Muhic said.
The last time an officer with the Arnold department was shot was Oct. 22, 1976. That shooting left Officer John LeCompte mortally wounded. He died 29 days later.
for dinner
...no fcks should be given
