EL MIRAGE, AZ — A man was shot and injured by El Mirage police Saturday night after reportedly trying to run down an officer during a traffic stop.
Around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, officers were conducting a traffic stop near Dysart and Cactus roads when a second vehicle approached the officers from the opposite direction, according to the El Mirage Police Department.
They say one of the officers contacted the driver of the second vehicle, identified as Theron William Rood. He was reportedly argumentative with the officer, and drove his car forward toward the direction of the other officer on the initial traffic stop.
At that point, police say Rood was given verbal commands to stop his vehicle, but refused.
He allegedly accelerated his vehicle toward the initial officer, striking both the other car and the police vehicle. Both officers pulled out their weapons and fired multiple rounds.
Police say Rood then got out of his car and ran away. He was arrested a short distance from the scene by other officers in the area.
Rood suffered a gunshot wound to the right arm and left leg. He was transported to a hospital for treatment and then released into police custody.
He is being booked on attempted homicide, aggravated assault and endangerment charges, according to El Mirage police.
No officers were hurt.
