CLEVELAND, Ohio – A Cleveland police officer is in stable condition after being shot Tuesday evening, officials said.
Det. Mark Bahrijczuk, who has been with the department for about four years, was shot twice in the 2800 block of Cedar Avenue, authorities said. He was struck once in the thigh and once in the arm while investigating stolen Kia and Hyundai vehicles in the area.
The officer is in stable condition but “will need further treatment,” Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said Thursday afternoon. WJW TV first reported his name.
Cleveland’s police chief, Wayne Drummond, said the location where Bahrijczuk was shot often sees stolen vehicles, which have been left behind.
“They came upon what they believed to be a stolen Kia,” he said Tuesday evening. “Four suspects bailed from the vehicle, and they started to run.”
Drummond said the officers chased the suspects. One suspect dropped a weapon during the chase that was picked by Bahrijczuk and placed in the detectives’ car. When he got out of the car, one of the suspects in a bright orange jacket fired four shots, hitting Bahrijczuk twice.
The driver then fled through the Cedar Estates Apartments. Cleveland police are still searching for four suspects accused in the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 216-623-5464. Anonymous information can be provided by calling Crimestoppers at 216-25-CRIME and a cash reward of up to $5,000 may be available.
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