Two Tampa Officers Shot During Traffic Stop, Both Stable
The Associated Press
Published: Jan 16, 2002

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Two police officers were in good condition Wednesday after they were shot with one of the officer's guns during a scuffle at a traffic stop.
Officers R.D. Pemberton, 43, who was wounded in the right shoulder, and Larry Mitchell, 46, who was shot in the groin, were being treated at Tampa General Hospital.

They were shot with Pemberton's 9mm Glock service weapon after one of the suspects wrestled it away from the officer.

Also shot in the scuffle is accused shooter Saul H. Garcia, 24, of Georgia. He was in stable condition at St. Joseph's Hospital with wounds to his abdomen and leg, police said.

Two other men, Jose R. Hernandez-Garcia, 20; and Bartolome Perez Chavez, 28, both of Georgia, were also in custody. Information on charges against them and their hometowns was not immediately available.

The shooting occurred about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday when the two officers stopped a van carrying three men in north Tampa. The officer saw Jose Garcia switch seats with his brother, Saul Garcia, and asked Jose Garcia to get out of the van.

As they were escorting him to the police cruiser, Jose Garcia began fighting with Pemberton, police said. As Mitchell tried to assist, Saul Garcia hit him from behind and knocked him to the ground, police said.

Saul Garcia took Pemberton's weapon and shot both officers, police said. Mitchell was able to return fire, hitting Saul Garcia.

The two other men fled in the van, but were captured after crashing it.

AP-ES-01-16-02 1109EST

Just put me in the right place at the right time just once..... I'd like to do my part to show criminals it's not ok to shoot cops... my Glock 30 would like to participate too.