Suspect in Phoenix police shooting released from hospital, faces charges

A man shot by a Phoenix police officer responding to a robbery call Monday has been released from a hospital and faces charges, officials said.

The suspect, Brandon Bacon, 35, was booked Wednesday into a Maricopa County jail on counts of aggravated assault, robbery and weapons possession violation, said Sgt. Vince Lewis, Phoenix police spokesman. 

The strong-arm robbery that sparked the incident occurred around 5:30 p.m., Monday near Central Avenue and Willetta Street, just south of McDowell Road, police said.

A man, later identified as Bacon, was riding on a bicycle near a CVS drugstore near Central Avenue and McDowell Road when he snatched a necklace off of a man and tried to ride away, Lewis said.

The victim ran after the robber and then flagged down a Phoenix police officer who was driving on Central Avenue, Lewis said. The officer saw the chase and heard the victim yelling, Lewis added.

The officer tried to detain Bacon when the bicycle struck a curb and he fell, Lewis said.

After falling to the ground, Bacon pulled a gun and pointed it at the officer, which prompted the officer to shoot and wound Bacon, Lewis said. 

After he was shot, Bacon dropped the gun and ran south, where another officer at a nearby restaurant, who had heard the shot, made contact with Bacon south of the scene, Lewis said.

Bacon, subdued by other responding officers and pepper spray, was detained and taken to a hospital, where he was treated until his release, Lewis said.

Police said the officer who fired later complained of hand pain, but was not seriously injured.

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