Monday, March 1, 1999 | 11:09 a.m.
A man ran into an alley at Meadows Village early this morning firing shots at a Metro Police officer in a patrol car, striking the officer at least twice before being run down by the vehicle.
The officer, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, is reported in good condition at University Medical Center with wounds in his left shoulder and right leg.
The suspect, Jose Rodriquez, 29, was not seriously injured.
Police spokesman Lt. Rick Alba said Rodriquez was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges that include attempted murder of a police officer, firing into an occupied vehicle, aiming a deadly weapon and being under the influence of a controlled substance.
The name of the officer will not be released for 48 hours following the incident, in keeping with department policy.
Alba said the patrolman was among at least three officers responding to a "shots fired" call at about 4:30 a.m.
The call originated from Meadows Village, a low-income apartment complex that has been undergoing extensive renovation in recent months.
Once considered a high crime area -- especially drug-related crime -- officers who work the area say the problems have not been as prevalent since the area known as Naked City has been the focus of police and citizens groups.
Alba said witnesses told police shots had been fired in the vicinity of an alley that runs between Tam Drive and Industrial Road. Tam is a short street east of Industrial that runs north and south between Sahara Avenue and Boston Avenue.
One patrol car entered the alley from the north, headed south, and two more entered from the south, headed north.
Alba said Rodriquez ran into the alley from the east and began shooting.
"When the (first) officer entered the alley, northbound, the suspect fired at the patrol car," Alba said. "Two rounds struck the officer, one in the left shoulder and one in the right thigh."
At least six bullets from a large caliber, semi-automatic handgun struck the police car's hood and windshield.
Alba said the officer then ran into Rodriquez with his patrol car.
"Taking evasive action, the officer drove toward the suspect, striking him and he rolled onto the hood," Alba said.
The man clung to the hood for about 75 feet.
"The officer stopped, and the suspect rolled off the vehicle," Alba said.
Alba said the suspect was trying to get out from beneath the officer's car when he was arrested.
"He was extremely un-cooperative," Alba said.
Rodriquez was not injured seriously enough to be taken to the hospital, according to Alba.
Investigators don't have a motive for the shooting.
Nothing is known about the suspect.
Alba said it is not known for certain if Rodriquez was the person who fired the shots that prompted the initial call.
The suspect's address was not known.
Alba said in years past, Meadows Village had a high crime rate, but he wasn't sure if there has been a decrease in the rate since a sweep was made of the area two years ago arresting suspected drug dealers.
"The police department and community have tried to clean up the area, but I don't know if it has significantly changed the crime rate," he said.
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