Officer-involved shooting in Central County

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. –  On Wednesday, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Darnell Johnson, 46 years of age, of the 5300 block of Gladstone Place in St. Louis, MO 63121.

Darnell Johnson (ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT)

Johnson is charged for one count of Assault in the Second Degree – Special Victim, one count of Armed Criminal Action, one count of Assault in the Third Degree, Disarming a Peace Officer or Correctional Officer while Performing Official Duty and Resisting/Interfering with Arrest for a Felony. He is being held on a $150,000 cash only bond.

The probable cause statement reads: The Police Officer came into contact with defendant at or near the entrance of the Lucas & Hunt Village apartments. The officer knew at the time that the Defendant had an active warrant for a parole violation. The Defendant approached the officer and punched in one time in the face knocking her to the ground. The Defendant then struck the officer again while she was on the ground. The officer sustained physical injury from the assault. The Defendant then removed a Taser, a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, from the officer’s duty belt. The Defendant then pointed the Taser at the officer and attempted to discharge the device. The Defendant then fled from the officer.

On Tuesday at approximately 11:00 am, an officer from the St. Louis County Police Department’s Central County Precinct was patrolling the Burrwood Apartment Complex in the area of Burrwood and Gladstone.

According to police, as the officer patrolled the apartment complex, she observed a subject known to her as being wanted for a parole violation regarding a robbery. The officer, notedly dressed in full department uniform, exited her marked patrol vehicle and was approached by the suspect who immediately began to physically attack her.

Police reported that the officer fell down and the suspect grabbed at her gun belt. After a struggle, the suspect successfully disarmed the officer of her department-issued Taser. The officer then un-holstered her department-issued handgun and fired at least one shot at the suspect.

The suspect ran from the scene and down the street into an apartment complex, according to police. At the time of the shooting, it was unknown if the suspect was struck by gunfire.

The Tactical Operations Unit arrived on the scene, taking the suspect into custody without further incident. The suspect, a 46-year-old male, was injured in the incident, police reported.

According to police, the officer involved suffered a head injury in the incident and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. She has six years of experience with the St. Louis County Police Department.

The St. Louis County Police Department was assisted by the Woodson Terrace Police Department, the Velda City Police Department, the St. John Police Department, the Breckenridge Hills Police Department and the Bel-Ridge Police Department in the immediate response.

The investigation is being led by the St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons.

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