Officer Fires Gun After Driver Flees In Seat Pleasant: Police

SEAT PLEASANT, MD -- An investigation is underway after a police officer opened fire when a driver fled in Seat Pleasant late last week, police say.

The officer conducted a traffic stop on Central Avenue near East Capitol Street at around 3:45 p.m. on Jan. 17 and had gotten out of his patrol car when the driver suddenly sped off, according to a report from the Prince George's County Police Department.

"There was a very brief pursuit which the officer called off, but then saw the vehicle turn down a dead-end street," the report states. "The officer followed, stopped his patrol car, got out and retreated to the rear of his patrol vehicle, then began to give the driver loud verbal commands. At that time, the driver ignored his commands and accelerated, fleeing the area."

The officer pulled out his gun and shot multiple times for "reasons which remain under investigation," the report adds.

Police found another gun near the scene and are trying to determine if it is connected to the case. They found the vehicle in Northeast D.C. and are trying to identify and locate the driver. It's not clear if the driver was injured.

Image via PGPD