Two Gretna police officers shot at a suspect who allegedly tried to hit them with a vehicle during a chase Monday afternoon, according to authorities.
No one was injured by the gunfire. But the suspect, 29-year-old Ronald Thomas, was bitten when he was taken into custody by a canine officer about 2:30 p.m., Gretna Police Chief Arthur Lawson said.
Before the pursuit began, a Gretna police officer spotted the Thomas' vehicle with a fake Louisiana temporary tag, Lawson said. The officer began following the vehicle on Lafayette Street, prompting Thomas to immediately park the car and walk into a business, Lawson said.
The officer passed the vehicle but noticed Thomas quickly return to the car and take off, according to authorities. The officer resumed following the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop based on the fake tag, according to Lawson.
Thomas refused to stop for the officer and continued driving before turning onto Friedrichs Street from Stumpf Boulevard, Lawson said.
But Thomas was unaware that Friedrichs was a dead-end street with a gate blocking the roadway just before Whitney Avenue. As he tried to turn around and head back towards Stumpf, the officer got out of his police car in an attempt to stop Thomas, according to Lawson.
Thomas drove toward the officer and rammed the police car, Lawson said. The officer fired an undetermined number of shots, and Thomas continued driving.
A second officer who was off duty nearby also tried to block the suspect. Thomas is accused of ramming that officer's vehicle after trying to hit him, too, Lawson said. The second officer also fired at Thomas but missed.
He continued back down Friedrichs Street but lost control of his vehicle near Stumpf and crashed into a parked car, according to Lawson. He jumped out of the car and ran from the officers.
Police searched the area, including the first officer, who was with his canine partner. The unidentified canine officer found the man hiding in a lot near a Waffle House at the intersection of West Bank Expressway and Dupas Street, Lawson said. The dog bit Thomas during the arrest.
Thomas was arrested on counts of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle upon on peace officer, aggravated flight from an officer, resisting an officer, hit and run and several other traffic counts.