Suspect On The Run After Shooting At Police Officer

December 4, 2016

Pensacola Police are searching for a man who shot at an officer and then ran from the scene late Friday night.

The officer – Matthew Mercado – was not injured in the incident, which occurred in the area of Torres Avenue and Tunis Street.

The incident occurred during a Violent Crime Suppression Operation, which had  additional officers saturating known problem areas. Since September, the city has experienced an increase in gun related crimes.

Around 10:30 p.m. Friday, officers responded to Highland Drive after a male confronted a resident while armed with a handgun. The woman said the male approached her vehicle after she backed out of a driveway, and confronted her while holding the gun. Fearing for her safety, she accelerated her vehicle to escape and the man fled. Mercado found the suspect on Sixth Avenue near Tunis Street.

The suspect turned toward Mercado, fired one shot and fled the area on foot.

Sgt. Stephen Bauer, who is coordinating the operation for the department, said the suspect is wanted for attempted murder on the officer and aggravated assault. The suspect was described as a black male, thin build and wearing dark pants and a dark jacket with a hood.

During a K-9 track for the suspect, officers smelled marijuana coming from a residence in the 3000 block of North Torres Avenue.

A search of the home resulted in the seizure of six firearms – one of which was stolen – and approximately 425 grams of marijuana. One person was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Also during the operation, officers saw several people gambling in the area of the Fricker Center, 900 North F St. Two males were charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and gambling.

The suspect in the shooting was not located.

The Violent Crime Suppression Operation lasted approximately 11 hours, and will continue for the foreseeable future.

Anyone having information on the attempted murder of the police officer is asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department at 435 – 1900 or Crime Stoppers at 433 – STOP. Callers can remain anonymous.

Comments

8 Responses to “Suspect On The Run After Shooting At Police Officer”

  1. nod on December 8th, 2016 11:27 am

    I’ve been wearing hoodies all my life only then we used to call them hooded sweatshirts the name hoodies does give them a bad name.

  2. Football Mom on December 6th, 2016 10:14 am

    I am a middle aged, middle class white female and I wear hoodies because they are warm and comfortable. My husband and sons wear hoodies for the same reason, 2 of which are in construction and 1 that is in college at a major university.

    Dont group all “hoodies” together, not all of them are thugs. Some hoodies are just normal folks making a living and trying to stay warm.

    #hoodielivesmatter

  3. D. Dickerson on December 6th, 2016 9:47 am

    @Bob I’m a black man who wears hoodies in the colder months like December (I know, it’s crazy I’d wear something that keeps me warm) My family and I usually go on the defensive when we see paranoid white dudes that are terrified of anything that goes outside of their homogenous fantasy world.

  4. DJC on December 5th, 2016 11:12 am

    @ Bob:

    I’m a middle aged white man that prefers a hoodie in the winter to keep my head warm. If you see me, please don’t view me as a threat.

  5. mary on December 4th, 2016 7:52 pm

    Bob C. My son wears a hoodie & he is a straight A /B student from Kindergarten to his 3 term @ PSC…and I really shouldn’t have to say this but he is white….He has never tried a drug or drank or even smoked a cigarette..you & your family need to rethink on that…

  6. Bob C. on December 4th, 2016 2:10 pm

    Relieved that PPD Officer, Matthew Mercado, was not injured.
    My family and I go on the defense whenever we see ‘the hoodie’ thing.
    Seems the hoodie clothing is an attempt to hide a thug.

  7. Anyone on December 4th, 2016 1:51 pm

    The rest of the crimes are not violent crimes. So what is a Violent Suppression Operation anyway?

  8. Don on December 4th, 2016 12:50 pm

    Thinking of an old Louis Armstrong strong son now
    “”And I think to myself,what a wonderfull world”……..

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News