A Haverhill police officer fired his gun late this morning after, the district attorney’s office says, two people in a vehicle backed into police cars and struck a patrolman outside the Main Street McDonald’s restaurant in Haverhill.
It was unclear Tuesday night whether the weapon’s discharge is related to injuries that resulted in the fleeing driver later being taken to an area hospital. Michael Keefe-Feldman, spokesman for Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker told WHAV by email that Haverhill police officers were in the midst of an investigation at 11:38, Tuesday morning at McDonald’s involving two individuals in a vehicle there.
“After officers approached the vehicle, the driver backed up into multiple police vehicles, struck an officer then proceeded to drive forward at other officers. A Haverhill officer then discharged his firearm,” said Keefe-Feldman.
He said the people in the car fled and were “pursued by Haverhill and, later, Lawrence officers into Lawrence where it was ultimately abandoned by both occupants. The driver was taken into custody a short time later and transported to an area hospital with injuries.” He said the other person has so far eluded police.
Keefe-Feldman said the names of the person arrested and the police officer involved are being withheld while the investigation continues by the Essex County District Attorney’s office and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned there along with Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services and Ballistics and several state troopers and units including the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, Air-Wing, K-9 and Drone units.