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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia police officer who was following a car with a headlight out shot the driver Wednesday after the man attempted to hit the officer with his vehicle, authorities said.
Mickey Cecil Davis of South Charleston was in a Charleston hospital's intensive care unit after the 1 a.m. shooting in Nitro, said Kanawha County Sheriff's Sgt. Brian Humphreys.
The shooting occurred after a Nitro police officer attempted to stop Davis, whose vehicle had only one operating headlight. Humphreys said in a news release that Davis, 28, didn't stop and a short chase followed.
Humphreys said after Davis eventually stopped in front of several townhouses, he attempted to hit the officer with his vehicle. The officer then fired several shots, striking the driver several times.
Humphrey said the officer and a passenger were not injured. The passenger, Tia Streater, 25, of Charleston, was charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Humphreys said the vehicle was improperly registered and not on file with the Division of Motor Vehicles.
Nitro police asked the sheriff's office to investigate. Humphreys said no decision has been made on charges and that after the investigation is complete, it would be turned over to the county prosecutor's office.
It wasn't immediately known whether Davis has an attorney.
According to Kanawha County Magistrate Court documents, Davis has a long arrest record, including four arrests in January and February. In June, Davis was charged by a Kanawha County grand jury with possession of a stolen vehicle.
In a news release, Nitro Police Chief Steve Walker identified the officer as Sgt. Justin Raynes, 27, a five-year member of the department. Walker said Raynes has been cleared to return to work.
In response to a reporter's question, Walker said both Davis and Raynes are white.
The shooting was the second involving Nitro police in three months.
In August, Nitro police Sgt. T.A. Jarrell was responding to a call about a domestic disturbance when he fatally shot a man who fired a gun at him as he approached a boat dock.
Nitro is about 14 miles west of Charleston.
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