Tell us what you think of this article. Take a short survey.
Officer Involved Shooting 5700 West Flower Street
The search for a stolen vehicle leads to an officer involved shooting after the suspect tries to run over officers tyring to escape. On August 18, 2009, at approximately 9:45 a.m. the Department of Public Safety Auto Theft Task Force, which includes Phoenix police officers, Good Year police officers and DPS officers, responded to the area of 5700 W. Flower Street after receiving information from Lo-Jack that a stolen vehicle was parked in front of the home. Based on the information, officers initiated surveillance on the property and noticed the vehicle parked in the driveway; then saw a man leave the home carrying a bag and enter the stolen vehicle.
The Task Force officers immediately surrounded the stolen vehicle with their own vehicles and tried to contact the driver, 23 year-old James Justin Weible, who was now a suspect. Weible refused to comply and rammed the unmarked police vehicles, causing the vehicles to strike others parked in the area and nearly hitting one officer who was on foot. The suspect kept trying to escape and turned the vehicle towards officers. Two of the officers feared for their lives and fired their duty weapons at Weible, who was unharmed and then surrendered to officers. He was booked into jail on charges of aggravated assault, theft of means of transportation, possession of burglary tools, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
During the incident, a second individual exited the same home as the suspect and fled; leaving officers to believe he may have returned inside the home. Officers attempted to locate this person but he was never found. At this point it is unknown if the missing individual is involved in any illegal activity.
The two officers involved in the shooting are from the Phoenix Police Department and the Good Year Police Department. As with all police involved shootings, the incident is being investigated and the officers will be placed on administrative leave.