Two Battle Creek police officers shot and seriously wounded a man Sunday and have been placed on paid leave. Shortly after 2 p.m. Christmas Day, police responded to the 200 block of North Birdsall Drive in Bedford Township when a woman reported her boyfriend assaulted her, according to a Monday police department press release. The 22-year-old Battle Creek man left the area before officers arrived. Police determined there was enough probable cause to arrest the man and tried to find him, the release states. At about 10:30 p.m. Sunday, the same woman called 911 again and reported the man had returned, was making suicidal statements, and had a knife, according to the release.
Three Battle Creek officers nearby on an unrelated call responded to North Birdsall Drive and heard yelling coming from the backyard of the home. Officers found the man and woman arguing. Two other people also were present, police said As officers approached, police said the man pulled what to them appeared to be a dark-colored handgun from his waistband. Officers told the man to drop the weapon and then two officers fired their weapons and struck the man twice in the torso, police said. Police said the man dropped his gun and fell to the ground. Officers took two knives from the man and provided first aid. A police supervisor took the man to a local hospital for treatment. One of the officers who shot the man has two years of experience and the other 10. They have been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of a Michigan State Police investigation, the release states. The shooting remains under investigation and more information will be release as it becomes available, according to the release.