EDMONDS, Wash. — A Seattle Police officer was hurt when he was hit by his personal car as it was being stolen outside an Edmonds apartment complex.
Shortly after 5:30 a.m. Monday, an off-duty officer heard his Hyundai Santa Fe start outside the apartments near the 9500 block of Edmonds Way, according to Edmonds Police.
“I was woken up by a loud bang, I’m not sure what it was but it was very loud and I was not able to go back to sleep after that,” said Cait Ochea.
Investigators say as the off-duty officer went to confront the suspects, they took off.
“He was out in front of his own vehicle when he was struck by that vehicle. He is OK, he sustained some bumps and bruises… After being struck with the car, the officer opened fire,” said Josh McClure, commander with the Edmonds Police Department.
Detectives believe the suspects were not injured, and say this incident appears to be random.
“We have evidence to support only one round was fired and there are no injuries here at the location or at any surrounding location from that round. We do not know if it was the officer’s personally owned handgun or a department-issued handgun,” said McClure.
Edmonds Police later said a single round struck a driver’s side door on the officer’s car.
When the officer’s car was stolen, it had police department equipment inside, including a department-issued handgun, radio and ballistic vest. Those items have not been recovered, police said.
KIRO7 has reached out to Seattle Police but has not heard back.
About an hour later, the officer’s car was found at a Burien apartment complex. Police were able to track it with an Apple AirTag he kept in the car.
No one has been arrested. Edmonds Police say the suspects involved are facing second-degree assault and vehicle theft charges.
If you have information about the incident, you’re asked to contact the Edmonds Police Department at 425-771-0200 or policetips@edmondswa.gov.