At 1:30 p. m. Monday, Tampa Police report that a vehicle was traveling south on 15th Street with a marked police cruiser traveling directly behind.
Police spokesperson, Laura McElroy, said the officer saw the vehicle cutting off other vehicles in traffic, and attempted a traffic stop at Bougainvillea and 15th Street.
McElroy said the vehicle traveled another block before it pulled over. The officer ran the driver’s name through their system to check for warrants.
The officer said he discovered the driver had a warrant for driving with a suspended license.
“The officer called for backup, and he and a second officer approached the driver’s side to make an arrest, ordering the driver out of the vehicle.”
“Initially, the driver acted like he was complying, then suddenly attacked one of the officers. A violent struggle began and the driver managed to get his hand on one of the officer’s weapons. He was yanking at it in an attempt to pull it from its holster when the officer yelled, ‘gun, gun, gun!’ The second officer warned the man to stop or he’d shoot, and at that point, the suspect was shot.”
McElroy said the driver was shot once and transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital. He is reported to be in critical condition.
The driver was identified as 26-year-old Alex Perez.
