Suspect Gets Shot After He Tries To Take Officer’s Gun

 



Authorities have identified the suspect in Monday night’s officer-involved shooting as 26-year-old Todd Sturgis. Sturgis, already wanted on multiple felony warrants, was shot during a physical struggle with Lufkin police officers who were attempting to arrest him at a local apartment complex.

According to the Lufkin Police Department, the incident occurred after officers received an anonymous tip about Sturgis’s whereabouts. The caller reported that Sturgis was hiding in Apartment No. 207 at Pinewood Park Apartments. Officers arrived at the location in the evening and spoke to a woman who initially denied knowing where Sturgis was.

However, after further questioning, the woman allowed officers to enter and search the apartment. Inside a bedroom, officers located Sturgis. When they attempted to take him into custody, he refused to comply with commands and began reaching repeatedly under the bed and mattress, causing concern that he might be attempting to retrieve a weapon or hide contraband.

Officers deployed a Taser in an effort to subdue him, but the device proved ineffective. As the struggle escalated, Sturgis allegedly attempted to grab one of the officer’s service weapons, leading to a violent altercation. During the physical confrontation, the officer discharged his firearm once, striking Sturgis in the torso.

Emergency responders transported Sturgis to a local hospital, where he is currently being treated. Police say his injuries are not life-threatening and that he is expected to recover. The officer who discharged his weapon was not injured in the incident, but a second officer sustained a minor fracture when a Taser barb became lodged in his finger during the scuffle.

Sturgis has an extensive criminal history and was already wanted on multiple warrants. In an incident just last month, he led officers on a high-speed pursuit after they attempted to arrest him on Tarrant County warrants for kidnapping, evading arrest, and delivery of a controlled substance. He managed to escape at that time, prompting Lufkin Police to issue their own warrant for evading arrest connected to the chase.

Following Monday’s confrontation, Sturgis will face three additional charges from the Lufkin Police Department, including two counts of disarming a peace officer and resisting arrest. These new charges come on top of his outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions, painting a clear picture of a suspect with a history of fleeing from and resisting law enforcement.

Per department policy, the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave with pay while an investigation is conducted by the Texas Rangers. This is standard protocol in any officer-involved shooting to ensure a thorough and impartial review. The identity of the officer will not be released until he has provided a formal statement to the lead Ranger investigating the case, which is expected later this week.

Lufkin Police officials emphasized that the decision to use lethal force was made only after non-lethal efforts failed and the situation escalated to a direct threat to the officer’s safety. The department has pledged full cooperation with the Texas Rangers’ investigation and will release additional information to the public as it becomes available.





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