NEWCOMERSTOWN — Authorities continue searching for two armed in connection with the shooting of a police officer in eastern Ohio.
UPDATE: Officer faked shooting to disguise suicide attempt
Police in Newcomerstown say the officer apparently was investigating a possible mobile methamphetamine lab and approached a vehicle with no visible license plate when a male passenger opened fire, hitting the officer. The officer, who was shot in the arm, has been released from a hospital.
Police say the suspects are armed with a shotgun and handguns and one was wearing a tactical vest. The vehicle authorities are searching for is described as a black Geo Tracker with dark tinted windows and no license plates.
Law enforcement officials earlier identified the man as a suspect in Tuesday’s shooting of the officer in Newcomerstown, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) south of Cleveland.
Newcomerstown police say a man taken into custody in the shooting has been cleared and is no longer a suspect.
The shooting prompted authorities to issue a statewide Blue Alert, an advisory similar to an Amber Alert, issued when a law enforcement officer has been injured by a suspect.