Kansas City police fire at suspected stolen car, arrest driver after pursuit

A Kansas City police officer fired at the driver of a suspected stolen car Wednesday, touching off a pursuit that led across the East Side of the city.

The car was spotted by a patrol officer Wednesday afternoon at a gas station near 45th Street and Cleveland Avenue, police said. When an officer pulled in and stepped out of a patrol car to speak to the driver, the suspect car started forward toward the officer. The officer fired at the vehicle, which continued into the street and drove away.

The officer who fired at the car felt threatened, said Sgt. Kari Thompson, a Kansas City police spokeswoman. “This officer made the right decision, because that was their perception at the time.” The incident was broadcast on television by a news helicopter.

The driver was not hit by gunfire, and led police on a chase north along Van Brunt Boulevard until police deflated the tires and stopped the car near a railway at St. John and Bennington avenues.

Police arrested the driver, who suffered some injuries that were not life-threatening, Thompson said. The driver did not appear to be armed.

Some passengers exited the car but were not described as suspects. Thompson said it was still unclear how many people had been in the car.

Thompson said investigators were still working to count how many shots were fired and what they hit.

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 4:46 PM.