The retiring director of IPFW’s Community Research Institute received Indiana’s top honor during a surprise party Tuesday at Parkview Field, the university announced.Fort Wayne Police Chief Rusty York said the actions of a police officer who shot and wounded a man during a brief pursuit Saturday night appear to be justified.
“What it looks like to me is we had an armed individual, and the officer acted appropriately,” York said.
The officer pulled over a moped at East Leith and South Hanna streets about 9 p.m., and the driver fled on foot, police said.
“When he took off running, the officer could tell he had a gun in his hand,” York said.
York said the officer chased the man into a backyard just south of where the traffic stop occurred. When the man turned toward the officer, the officer fired, hitting the man once in his arm and once in his butt, the chief said.
York said the man fell to the ground, and near him, police found a stolen pistol. The man did not fire at the officer during the pursuit, York said.
The chief said he had no other details about the shooting, noting the officer involved had not yet been interviewed. He said such a delay is standard procedure.
The wounded man was taken from the scene in serious condition, and he remained hospitalized Sunday with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.
York said he expects the man will face charges stemming from the incident. Police have not released the reason for the traffic stop.
The Fort Wayne Police Department is conducting a criminal investigation into the case, along with an internal investigation to determine if departmental policy was followed, York said.
