Five Suspects Arrested in Oakland Officer Shooting

By: Sylvia Ramirez - Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:16:37 -0800

OAKLAND (BCN) -- Five suspects are in custody in connection with a shooting that injured an undercover officer on Monday evening, and a manhunt is continuing for other suspects who remain at large, Oakland police said.

Three suspects are allegedly directly connected to the shooting, and two are being detained for suspected involvement in the incident, an Oakland Police commander said.

The shooting happened at about 6:20 p.m. Monday in the 1700 block of Seminary Avenue. Police Chief Howard Jordan said at a news conference at police headquarters Tuesday that the plainclothes officer was in the area following up on a shooting that occurred in the neighborhood early Sunday evening.

The officer was working as part of a new violence-reduction crime team created by Jordan, and was alone when he was confronted by up to five suspects and shot, Jordan said. He suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and was taken to a hospital. He was treated and released Monday night.

Jordan said the officer, whom he called experienced and "one of the best undercover officers" in the department, is resting at home today.

The shooting prompted a manhunt that was still under way late this morning.

All of the suspects are men and are believed to have gang ties, Jordan said. Seminary Avenue remains shut down between Harmon Avenue and East 17th Street, but no evacuations have been ordered.

Police have served search warrants at homes in the area and have recovered some firearms, but it is unclear whether the guns are connected to either shooting, Jordan said.

Officers were continuing to serve additional search warrants in that block mid-morning, he said. A SWAT team is scouring the neighborhood.

Jordan said it is not clear whether the shooter realized that the victim was a police officer.

Oakland deputy mayor and former Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, who was also at the news conference, appealed to the public to come forward with information on the suspects' whereabouts. Police have asked residents in the area who may have seen something suspicious to call 911 or (510) 777-3211.

(Copyright 2013, Bay City News, All rights reserved.)
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