Deputy, police officer involved in shooting during traffic stop

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Bladen County Sheriff’s deputy and an Elizabethtown Police officer were involved in a shooting during a traffic stop in Elizabethtown, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.

The release said the shooting happened early Saturday morning.

Sheriff Jim McVicker said after the deputy saw a car run through two traffic lights, he pulled it over near the intersection of Poplar Street and King Street. After stopping the car, the deputy learned the driver had an outstanding felony warrant for failing to appear on a drug charge.

“The deputy had the driver step out of the vehicle and told him he was under arrest for the outstanding warrant,” McVicker said. McVicker added that the deputy found a “small bag of a controlled substance” on the driver while patting him down.

“At that point, a struggle ensued and the driver made it back to the door of his vehicle and retrieved a handgun,” McVicker said. “The deputy saw the weapon and told the Elizabethtown Officer who had just arrived, the driver had a gun. The driver then fired a shot at the Elizabethtown officer at which time both officers returned fire.”

McVicker said neither officer was hit during the exchange of gunfire, but the driver was struck several times. He was transported to Bladen County Hospital and later moved to New Hanover Memorial Hospital, where his condition  is unknown at this time.

Both officers were treated and released from the hospital.

McVicker has requested the SBI to investigate the shooting, which he said is standard practice when there is an officer involved shooting.

“Both officers will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation,” McVicker said, adding that this is also standard procedure.