Image via Twitter
Update:
Reports of a Massachusetts police cruiser being shot at by a gunman driving a dark-colored pickup truck were discovered false during investigation.
The Millis County police officer who had fabricated the story may now face criminal charges.
The Boston Globe reports,
"As the investigation continued, officials said the officer would be fired and could face criminal charges as early as next week. His police SUV crashed into the woods around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday off Forest Road, caught fire, and was destroyed. The officer said the vehicle had been hit by gunfire from a white man driving a dark-colored pickup truck.
"But investigators determined that the shots were fired by the officer himself and there was no pickup truck driver, said Millis’s acting police chief, Sergeant William Dwyer, who wore a grim expression as he briefed the media during an afternoon news conference."
The officer has not yet been arrested.
Authorities are investigating whether the officer had intentionally crashed his department vehicle and set it on fire.
Original story:
A Massachusetts police cruiser was reportedly shot at by a gunman Wednesday afternoon.
The Millis Police Department cruiser then crashed and caught on fire.
Massachusetts State Police released the following statement following the incident:
“Massachusetts State Police and several local police departments are investigating shots fired into a Millis Police Department cruiser at approximately 3 p.m. on Forest Road in that town. The cruiser was struck by gunfire, then crashed and caught on fire.
“State Police are not aware of any injuries at this time. If that changes we will update this post.
“Preliminary investigation indicates the shots were fired from a dark colored — possibly maroon — pickup truck. The suspect vehicle fled the scene after the shooting. Preliminary reports describe the suspect as a white male.
“State Police patrols from Troops H and C have responded to assist in the search for the suspect, as has a helicopter from our Air Wing. Additionally, State Police detectives, K9 units, crime scene technicians, ballistics technicians, and fire investigators are en route to the scene to assist.
“No further information is available at this time.”
As noted in the MSP's statement, the suspect is said to be a white man driving a dark colored, possibly maroon, pickup truck. The search for the suspect is currently underway.
According to local news station WBZ, "Residents who live in the area received a phone alert from the town asking them to shelter in place."
For more, watch the Fox News report below.
H/T The Right Scoop