By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- • An armed carjacking suspect was shot by police following a nearly hour-long vehicle pursuit in the Cleveland area on Jan. 6.
- • The suspect fired multiple shots at officers during the pursuit and again after his vehicle was stopped, authorities said.
- • No officers were injured during the incident, which involved Cleveland Police and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office.
- • The shooting remains under investigation, and the involved officers have been placed on administrative leave per policy.
CLEVELAND, OH — An armed carjacking suspect was critically injured after firing shots at law enforcement officers during a nearly hour-long pursuit that ended in an officer-involved shooting Tuesday evening, according to authorities.
The incident began Jan. 6 when Cleveland Police officers identified a vehicle connected to multiple carjackings across Cleveland neighborhoods. The driver, later identified as Reuben Bell, 38, of Cleveland, fled, prompting a prolonged pursuit involving Cleveland Police and deputies from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office.
During the pursuit, Bell was observed brandishing a handgun and firing multiple rounds from his vehicle toward pursuing officers, investigators said. Law enforcement deployed stop sticks, but the suspect continued driving for approximately 15 minutes on damaged tires.
The pursuit ended near South Moreland Boulevard and Ashwood Road after officers used a precision immobilization technique to stop the vehicle. Authorities said Bell fired additional shots at officers after the vehicle came to rest, prompting two Cleveland police officers and two sheriff’s deputies to return fire.
Bell was struck and transported to a local hospital, where he was reported to be in critical condition. No officers were injured. Bell has been charged with three counts of felonious assault on a peace officer, and additional charges related to the carjackings are pending. The officer-involved shooting remains under investigation, and all four involved officers have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with department policy.