Tacoma PD: Officer opened fire on suspect who drove at police and rammed cruiser

TACOMA -- Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that allegedly stemmed from a disgruntled driver who drove his car at multiple officers following a traffic dispute Saturday.

The 34-year-old suspect was not injured in the shooting.

Around 6:38 p.m. Saturday, officers received calls of a traffic dispute in a parking lot in the 3200 block of S. Union Avenue, Tacoma police said.

The dispute was handled quickly, officers said. But before leaving the area, a 34-year-old man involved in the dispute intentionally backed into an officer's patrol car. The driver then allegedly pulled back into a parking stall, rolled up his windows, locked his doors and pulled his hood over his head, refusing to talk to officers.

Officers approached the man's car and ordered him to step out, police said, but he refused.

After refusing officer's demands, the man allegedly backed his car again into an officer's vehicle. He also struck two parked cars. The man then drove fast in the direction of officers standing in the parking lot, police said.

A supervisor on scene fired several shots at the suspect's car as it came toward them, police said. The car missed the officers and came to a stop nearby.

Police approached the driver - who had not been shot - and he allegedly again refused to exit the vehicle. Officers used an "electronic control device,"  much like a Taser, to subdue the suspect and take him into custody, police said.

The suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment of a minor complaint of pain, police said. He was cleared and booked into Pierce County Jail on first-degree assault and first-degree malicious mischief charges.

Tacoma police are investigating the incident.

The 50-year-old Tacoma Police Department supervisor who fired the shots has been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation per department procedure.