HOPEWELL, Va (WTVR) - Hopewell Police identified the man involved in a Sunday evening chase that ended in gunfire. Police arrested Jonathan Landon, 31, of Hopewell, but have not yet released the charges filed against him.
"The offender attempted to elude officers in his truck. He intentionally crashed head-on into a police vehicle. The offender then used his vehicle in an attempt to run over a second officer, and then he intentionally crashed into a third officer’s vehicle," Hopewell Police said in a statement.
Landon hit two police cruisers head-on, while trying to run from officers on Appomattox St., according to police. Three Hopewell police officers fired at Landon after he hit the first cruiser, sources said. Those three officers have been placed on administrative leave, standard procedure when an officer fires his weapon.
Three Hopewell officers taken to the hospital with minor injuries Sunday have all been released.
Witnesses said Landon drove his truck into a utility pole at the home he rented on Appomattox St. seconds before officers arrived Sunday.
"He pushed his truck up against the pole real easy. Like he was trying to push in his bumper or hood or something," neighbor Rita Smith said.
Smith said once an officer pulled up behind Landon and got out of the vehicle to confront him, Landon sped through his front yard and down Appomattox St.
Seconds later, Smith heard the truck smash into the police cruiser. Gunshots followed shortly thereafter, she said. Landon was hit in the elbow.
According to online court records, Landon had several speeding tickets on his record and faced a DWI charge earlier this year.
Neighbors and co-workers said Landon is a good man; adding that they do not know what would lead him to flee from police.
Landon was taken to VCU Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. He is now being held without bond at Riverside Regional Jail.
