West Covina Police Officer Shot by Man on Bicycle: Police

WEST COVINA, CA - Police and sheriff's deputies Saturday continued their search for an armed man, at one time on a bicycle, who shot and wounded a police officer in West Covina.

The officer was stable at a hospital and expected to survive a gunshot wound in the upper torso, said Deputy Sara Rodriguez of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

The shooting took place at 11:20 p.m. Friday, near the intersection of North Yaleton Avenue and Badillo Street, according to Rodriguez.

The suspect at-large was identified as 47-year-old Jose Chavez, she said. "Chavez fired numerous rounds at the officer as the officer attempted to detain him."

According to sheriff's homicide detectives who are assisting West Covina police with the officer-involved shooting investigation, the wounded officer had "contacted" a man riding a bicycle.

That contact led to a gunfight between the officer and the bicyclist, which left the officer wounded, according to Deputy Trina Schrader.

There's no word yet on what led to the escalation after the contact was made by officers, or why the officer stopped the man in the first place.

Chavez is described as Hispanic, about 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 225 pounds, dark hair and eyes and an eyebrow piercing, Rodriguez said.

He should be considered armed and dangerous, she said.

Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to contact sheriff's homicide detectives at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or http://lacrimestoppers.org.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock