Flagstaff Police Officer, Suspect Injured In Shootout

crime scene notice

FLAGSTAFF — A Flagstaff Police officer and a suspected trespasser, Jose Ernesto Padilla, were injured during a shootout in Flagstaff on Saturday afternoon.

According to Flagstaff Police, officers responded to reports of a man on a roof trying to enter a home in the 2100 block of E. Maple area.

According to the witness, Padilla was reportedly on a residential rooftop attempting to gain access into one of the residences in the area. While officers were responding to the area, Padilla reportedly fled on foot in a westward direction in possession of a handgun.

Officers arrived in the area and found Padilla jumping a fence behind the El Tapatio Restaurant, 2004 E. Route 66.

At approximately 12:52 p.m. Flagstaff Police received information Padilla entered the El Tapatio Restaurant and then went into a storage container behind the restaurant. Officers arrived on scene and secured a perimeter around the metal container while other officers reviewed video inside the restaurant.

Officers confirmed that the suspect was Padilla, age 18, was being sought regarding an Aggravated Assault investigation on September 14, 2019.

Officers on scene began negotiations with Padilla requesting he exit the container without success. The Flagstaff Police Department Negotiations Team as well as the Flagstaff Police Department SWAT Team were requested and arrived to assist with taking Padilla into custody.

After lengthy negotiations were unsuccessful, gas was deployed into the container. During this time, Padilla fired his handgun at the officers prompting them to respond by discharging their firearms.

According to Flagstaff Police, after Padilla was injured and no longer posed a danger to the officers the officers gave him commands and was then compliant as they took him into custody without further incident. A medic, who is a member of the SWAT Team provided emergency first aid until medical personnel arrived.

Padilla was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. A Flagstaff Police Officer was also injured during the exchange of gunshots and was also transported to Flagstaff Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Flagstaff Police Department officers involved in the shooting will be placed on paid Administrative Leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.

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