A search is underway in Brevard County for two suspects who drove at a deputy in a stolen car and knocked him over as he fired at them to stop, the Sheriff’s Office said.
A deputy spotted a vehicle that matched the description of a stolen car the parking lot of a Save-A-Lot located at 1208 Dixon Blvd. in Cocoa, deputies said. Upon investigation, the deputy approached the car and the driver of the car allegedly accelerated directly toward the deputy, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The deputy was struck by the fleeing car, officials said. In an effort to defend himself as the car approached, the deputy fired at the car. It was not immediately clear if the suspects were hit.
Read: Man arrested following fatal hit-and-run in Brevard County, FHP says
Deputies said the vehicle was last seen traveling northbound on Pineda Street.
The injured deputy was transported to a hospital. He was not seriously hurt, but we’re told his arm was scraped when he hit the pavement, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“You see our deputies every day out here, putting their lives on the line,” Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said. “It’s the perfect example of the type of dangerous work that they do. And these individuals are out here reckless.”
Deputies said a search of the surrounding area was conducted, but the vehicle was not found. The car was described as a black 2014 four-door Volkswagen sedan.
Investigators said the car was occupied by two men.
Savanna Garrett told Channel 9 she was serving a Cocoa police officer at the diner in the shopping plaza when the shooting happened.
“I was taking his order and I heard three gunshots go off. It was pretty scary,” she said. “He jumped straight up and ran out the front door making sure his other officers were OK.”
The deputy was placed on paid administrative leave as is customary in officer-involved shootings.