NC police wound man wearing bulletproof vest

CHARLOTTE — Police in Charlotte shot and wounded a man accused of firing at officers after fleeing through the city, then discovered he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

The Charlotte Observer reports the chase occurred Thursday night after officers tried to stop a van with expired tags.

Police Chief Rodney Monroe says officers followed the vehicle for about six minutes as it moved through shopping center parking lots.

Monroe said the van stopped at a gas station and the driver got out and fired at officers, shattering the window of a police cruiser. Officers fired at the man and found he was wearing the vest.

Police spokesman Robert Fey said 35-year-old Donald Ray Oakes Jr. was in critical condition Friday morning at Carolinas Medical Center.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)