Puyallup police officer shoots armed robber after chase, department reports

A Puyallup police officer shot and seriously wounded a serial robbery suspect early Wednesday after the man allegedly pulled a gun at the end of a high-speed pursuit.

The incident started about 2:30 a.m. when officers were called to a restaurant in the 600 block of South Hill Park Drive for an armed robbery in progress.

Several people called 911 to report a man was threatening employees and customers.

Police gave this account:

Officers spotted a truck speeding away from the restaurant and chased it onto 31st Avenue Southwest near the state Route 512 overpass. The driver kept going, prompting a pursuit on eastbound state Route 512.

The driver got off the freeway at South Meridian Street and tried to head north but lost control of the truck and crashed it head-on into a concrete overpass support.

As officers tried to arrest the suspected robber, who was in the passenger seat, he pointed a shotgun at the truck’s driver.

“We don’t know if he was trying to turn this into a hostage situation or shoot the driver or himself,” Capt. Scott Engle said. “That’s part of the investigation.”

An officer then shot the suspect, who police said is a 37-year-old convicted felon from Tacoma who is believed responsible for 10 robberies in Pierce County.

Three of them were in Puyallup.

The man was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in serious condition.

The driver, a 39-year-old convicted felon, also was taken into custody.

The officer who wounded the suspect was placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure after an officer-involved shooting.

His name was not released.

He has been in law enforcement for nearly 15 years and joined the Puyallup Police Department five weeks ago.

This story was originally published October 19, 2016 at 11:44 AM with the headline "Puyallup police officer shoots armed robber after chase, department reports."