Police fired shots at and then used a canine officer to subdue a
man who broke into a tow business to retrieve his car earlier
tonight, police and sources said.
Police fired shots at and then used a canine officer to subdue a man who broke into a tow business to retrieve his car earlier tonight, police and sources said.
Frank La Corte, owner of Marx Towing at 5757 Obata Way in southeast Gilroy, said a driver told him that the man had tried to break into the tow yard to retrieve his car without paying.
Gilroy police Capt. Kurt Svardal said two officers fired shots at the suspect sometime after 5 p.m. after responding to a service call at 4:43 p.m. at the towing company.
However, he said it was unclear whether the suspect had even been hit or whether the suspect was armed, and police were questioning the officers who fired the shots along with other witnesses.
It did not appear that the suspect fired any shots at police, Svardal said, and he indicated that no officers were injured. He did not know the name or residence of the suspect as of 11 p.m.
“We’re still trying to piece together what happened,” Svardal said Sunday evening.
An ambulance transported the suspect to a local hospital, where he was accompanied by police, Svardal said. He said the man sustained puncture wounds after a K-9 took him into custody. The suspect was treated and released back to police, he said.
Svardal said that about half a dozen witnesses still were being questioned as of 11:15 p.m.
Police had the crime scene barricaded and taped off, and several police vehicles were parked with their lights flashing. Police moved back and forth under a giant set of glaring lights as they investigated the scene. La Corte said he was not allowed to access his business. However, he said one of his staff members indicated that none of the drivers were injured.
“I’m just glad that none of my drivers were hurt,” La Corte said.
