Shots fired after suspect tries to ram cop car

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Several people were hospitalized after an altercation between Vancouver police and a suspect wanted by the Washington State Department of Corrections.

Officers found the man on the 2500 block of Main Street, where he attempted to hit a police car with his own car. A Vancouver PD officer fired at the suspect, who fled in his car.

“I came out to see if everything was OK,” witness Jonathan Steinman said. “I heard gunshots so I told everyone to get down and get to the back of the building.”

The suspect then hit a car with 2 people in it, then crashed into the Uptown Karate building near E 16th and Broadway. He tried to flee on foot but was appended and taken into custody.

“I went, ‘oh my goodness,'” Uptown Karate owner Dennis Pfendler said. “I’m looking out here and I have this vehicle that’s up against my building.”

Pfendler saw that the car’s back window was shot out, and the suspect try to escape.

The suspect was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but his injuries did not appear life-threatening, Vancouver Police said. There was also a woman in the car with the suspect, who was also taken into custody.

The 2 people in the car the suspect slammed into were also taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Steinman went to help the man and woman that were trapped in the car.

“We just kind of checked pulses, and made sure they weren’t moving their necks around,” Steinman said.

The officer involved is on leave, per police procedure, after firing his weapon. No officers were injured.