Little Rock Officer Shoots Suspect

Early Sunday morning a Little Rock Police Officer says he shot a man he thought was breaking into cars in a River Market parking lot. It happened around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday morning just off La Harpe Boulevard. Bicycle Officer Josh Black says he saw a man trying to break into cars. He says when he approached him, the man tried to run away. Officer Black says he chased 30-year-old Cleveland West Jr. along an access road near La Harpe. As they ran under the Peabody Hotel, Officer Black says West turned toward him and pulled something out of his pocket. The officer says that`s when he felt his life was in danger and he opened fire. Officer Black shot West in the arm and stomach. West is now at UAMS in serious condition. When he is released, he`ll be charged with two counts of breaking and entering. Officer Black is on administrative leave until the Police Department completes an investigation into the shooting. The Pulaski County Prosecutor will then decide whether Officer Black was justified in shooting West. Officer Black was shot by a suspect in 2002 while responding to a disturbance call on Maple Street.