ARLINGTON, Texas — Arlington police shot a man during a foot chase after a crash Monday morning, officials said.
The man was taken to a hospital and was in surgery early Monday afternoon, according to police. No officers were injured in the incident, which unfolded shortly before 11 a.m. in the 3700 block of Shady Valley Drive.
A police spokesperson told WFAA that the incident started when two parents reported that their son was armed and refusing mental health services. The parents said an argument unfolder over their son's alleged drug use.
"In this situation, the family called because they did need help," said APD Chief of Staff Lt. Courtney White during a press conference on Monday afternoon. "He was exhibiting some behaviors, and they tried to get him some help."
During a press conference, police say they were called at about 9:55 a.m. and found the man away from his home. They reportedly spoke to him and found no criminal offense had taken place and offered to take him home. Officers then attempted to frisk the man before letting him into their vehicle, but he ran away. Since no criminal offense had occurred, officers didn't pursue him at that time.
After returning to the family, a 911 call came in reporting a man holding a gun had approached him demanding money, police said. The description of the suspect matched the man officers had just spoken to. They began searching for him, but family soon reported he had returned home and was trying to take a pickup truck parked in the driveway.
Police said the son left in a black pickup truck and crashed into a van. While driving the van, police said he reportedly shot through the windshield at an officer posted ahead of him, but that cop wasn't injured. He then ran into a carport at another home, where a responding Arlington police officer shot him after asking him to drop his weapon multiple times, officials said.
While arresting him, police said they noticed the man had been shot multiple times. They rendered aid and he was then taken to a hospital for treatment. Police say he is in stable condition and expected to survive.
Police said the man's gun was found near the carport. They are investigating whether he had fired any additional rounds there. Family also told police he had fired his weapon in their home before officers began pursuit.
"He alarmed his family, that would alarm anyone," White said.
The suspect has been charged by police with aggravated assault on a public servant, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated assault family violence and one count of evading arrest.
Police say the suspect's name will be released once he has been discharged from the hospital and taken to the Dallas County Jail.
The shooting happened next door to a daycare, officials said, but no one else was injured.
That carport was next to Kerry O'Connell's home. The sound of the gunfire got Kerry's attention in his house.
"I thought I heard thunder," O'Connell said. "I got to the front window, and there's a policeman running across my front yard with a gun, and I'm like, well, I guess that wasn't thunder."
O'Connell's truck has bullet holes due to the gunshots fired during the confrontation in his yard. One of the bullets also struck a tire on his truck.
"There were gunshots traded, and I think they shot him in the leg," O'Connell said. "They sat him down next to my truck, and then they called the ambulance and took him off."
APD said the department's Behavioral Health Unit wasn't part of the initial response, but officers receive special training for mental health crisis situations.
Two of the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, APD said.