Dec 6, 2009 6:55 pm US/Eastern
Police Seek Man Who Shot Animal Control Officer
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Baltimore City police are still investigating whether an Animal Control officer was targeted in a recent shooting.
CBS
Baltimore City police are still investigating whether an Animal Control officer was targeted in a recent shooting. Now they're asking for your help.
Tim Williams has more on why they think the attack may be linked to an earlier incident.
As he responded to a routine call, police say a 37-year-old Animal Control officer was shot and wounded through the window of his van around 7 p.m. Monday.
"Police responded to a call for a shooting. Upon investigation, we realized that a Baltimore City Animal Control officer had responded to a disturbance call in the 700-block of Pontiac Avenue," said police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
The officer, Jermaine Barnes, is said to have been sitting and doing paperwork inside his vehicle when he was shot.
"Heard some gunshots, noticed that the left window was shot out and he was struck in the hand," Guglielmi said.
Medics responded and transported Barnes to Shock Trauma. He's now expected to be fine. City Animal Control officers say this is not typical of the dangers they face every day.
"I've been with the city now going on 12 years and this is the first incident that anyone has ever been shot by a person. We've had one officer shoved down a pair of stairs, but that's been it when it comes to actual violence," said Animal Control Director Bob Anderson.
Reports say Barnes seized an animal earlier that night. The later call was for five dogs being kept in a home. The officer found no animals at the address when he arrived, leaving police to wonder if the incidents are related.
"Was this in response to his call for service? Was this random periphery gunfire? They are conducting interviews currently," Guglielmi said.
"There's been threats but this is the first time anything actually like this has happened," Anderson said.
Police are still looking for the shooter.
If you have any information, you can contract Baltimore City police by dialing 311.
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