OFFICER BRESHEARS

The Little Rock Police Department has identified the carjacking suspect shot by a police officer Wednesday after a chase from Home Depot to the drive-through line of a nearby Chick-fil-A in West Little Rock.

The police release:

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On Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at 1307 hours, Officers were dispatched to the Home Depot, located at 12610 Chenal Parkway, on a shoplifter in custody call. Officers were advised that asset protection personnel had a shoplifter in custody. While officers were enroute to the call, Home Depot employees called back and asked that the officers respond quickly because the spect was becoming aggressive and uncooperative. They also believed that he was a juvenile.

When officers arrived at the Home Depot they took the suspect into custody. He was identified as Rudy Avila, W/M, 08/08/1994. It was determined that Avila was not a juvenile.

Avila was placed in handcuffs and officers were escorting him to their police vehicle when Avila pulled away and fled on foot through the parking lot. Officers chased Avila on foot and at some point during the chase Avila was able to get out of one handcuff. Avila fled to the drive thru of Chick-Fil-A where he forced a female driver out of her vehicle and attempted to flee. Officers were able to catch up to Avila as he was in the vehicle and gave him several commands to stop and exit the vehicle. Avila ignored these commands and attempted to drive around a vehicle in front of him and drove toward Officer Breshears. At that point, in fear for his life, Officer Ralph Breshears fired his service weapon at Avila.

Avila then drove the car off the embankment and into another vehicle. Avila was struck multiple times in the arm.

The officers took Avila into custody and rendered aid until MEMS arrived. Avila was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The female driver of the vehicle Avila took was also taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure.

Officer Breshears was hired as a Little Rock Police officer on February 25, 1991. Officer Breshears has been placed on administrative leave. Charges are pending against Rudy Avila upon his release from the hospital. The investigation is ongoing.

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