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WEST VALLEY CITY — A police officer is recovering after being shot in the knee Friday while responding to a report of an armed robbery.
The officer was shot shot at multiple times about 7:45 p.m. during the incident at 2684 W. 3475 West. One of those shots struck the officer in the knee. He was taken to an area hospital for "extensive surgery," police said.
West Valley City Police Lt. Mike Coleman described the officer's injuries as not life threatening but possibly life altering.
"There's some serious damage to his leg and knee," Coleman said. "It's going to be a lengthy recovery."
Police have arrested Cesar Martinez-Hernandez, 24, in connection with the shooting.
The incident began when officers were called to a reported armed robbery at 3511 W. Vespa Drive (2555 South). Numerous officers arrived on the scene and began to search the area for the suspect and his vehicle.
The officer involved spotted a vehicle matching the description of Martinez-Hernandez's vehicle. As the officer approached the vehicle, police say Martinez-Hernandez shot at the officer, hitting him once, before driving away.
The officer was able to return fire but did not strike the man.
Following a short vehicle chase, police say Martinez-Hernandez crashed his vehicle into a parked car and attempted to flee on foot. The man was quickly apprehended, and the gun believed to have been used in the shooting was recovered from his vehicle.
West Valley police are conducting a full investigation into the incident. The Salt Lake District Attorney's Office is investigating the officer's use of his weapon.
Martinez-Hernandez was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of attempted aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, felony fleeing, possession of a firearm by a restricted person and possession of a controlled substance.
A search of court records show that Martinez-Hernandez was charged in July 2005 with possessing a dangerous weapon, a class A misdemeanor; discharging a firearm from a vehicle, a class B misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a class C misdemeanor.
Martinez-Hernandez pleaded guilty to the possession of a dangerous weapon charge later that year and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and two years of probation. He was also ordered to submit to deportation when released and not return to the country illegally, according to court records.
Martinez-Hernandez listed a West Valley City address at that time. Court records were unclear as to the man's native country.
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