ARBORO, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina police officer is on administrative leave after his gun went off and wounded a motorist who drove off from a traffic checkpoint and led the officer on a foot chase.
Tarboro police said in a news release that the motorist drove off on Sunday after the officer smelled alcohol and marijuana in the car.
The news release says that during the ensuing chase, the man hit another car, then got out and ran. When the officer caught him and tried to take him into custody, his gun went off.
The motorist suffered a non-life-threatening injury, police said, adding that the driver of the car that was struck was treated at a local hospital and released.
Police filed multiple charges against the driver, who was released on an unsecured $10,000 bond pending a court appearance. It’s not known if he has an attorney.
The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation is looking into it.
