COLUMBUS – A Columbus police officer is in stable condition and three suspects who were taken into custody were released after police say someone ambushed the officer at a Northeast Side intersection late Thursday night.
Officer William Frease was conducting surveillance on a vehicle near the intersection of E. Hudson Street and McGuffey Avenue just after 10:45 p.m. when someone inside the vehicle fired at Frease, who was inside a vehicle acting Columbus Police Chief Tim Becker said.
Frease reported from the area of Hamilton Avenue and E. Hudson Street that he had been shot and was taken to OSU Wexner Medical Center where he is expected to survive his injuries, police division spokeswoman Sgt. Chantay Boxill said.
The suspect fled the scene following the shooting but Boxill says the injured officer was able to give responding officers a description of the suspect and the vehicle, which was stopped near E. Broad Street and Yearling Road by Whitehall police.
The suspect and two other individuals were taken into custody but were released while investigators try to determine who shot Frease.
Becker said Friday afternoon that Frease was struck by a shot that went through the rear driver’s side window of his unmarked car.
Boxill said a firearm was recovered in the suspect vehicle.