Sources: Hero Officer Fires at Suspect
By VINCE LATTANZIO
Updated 1:37 PM EST, Wed, Sep 16, 2009
Philadelphia police Sgt. Richard DeCoatsworth had the third close call of his young career Tuesday night when a man on a motorcycle tried to run him down, according to police.
DeCoatsworth shot at the man and hit him in the leg, according to police sources.
DeCoatsworth and another officer had just stopped another man on the motorcycle at Amber and Hagert Streets in the Kensington section of Philadelphia around 8:40 p.m., police said. While they were questioning him, the second man jumped on the motorcycle and allegedly drove at the officers. That's when DeCoatsworth shot at the man, who sped off, according to police.
The first man, Jose Colon, was found a short time later at his home and police found the second suspect at Hahnemann University Hospital where his mother took him to be treated for the gunshot wound. Neither officer was hurt.
Officer DeCoatsworth was shot in the face during a traffic stop in 2007 when he was a rookie. DeCoatsworth managed to chase down that shooter and take him into custody before receiving medical assistance for his severe wound. His heroism earned him an invitation from Vice President Joe Biden to attend President Obama's first congressional address at the U.S. Capitol. The officer sat in the First Lady's box for the address.
This past April he was jumped and attacked by a man when he tried to disperse a crowd in the Logan section of the city. DeCoatsworth's gun went off while he was struggling with the man, police sources said at the time. Another officer responding to the scene shot and killed the suspect.
This third incident may involve some controversy. "The cop just jumped out of his car and the one boy jumped off the bike and the other guy jumped on and the cop just started shooting," said one woman in the neighborhood. She claims police acted recklessly, shooting when there were children nearby.
First Published: Sep 15, 2009 9:02 PM EST
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