Another Officer Invovled Shooting In Rockford

After receiving a call about a potentially stolen car in one of Rockford`s most dangerous areas on the west side, Officer Oda Poole pulled over and questioned the driver, Billy Peavy. That is when Peavy tried to run him over. "The driver`s got the foot on the gas, control of the wheel...[Officer Poole`s] intent was to minimize the threat. The threat was the driver," says Police Chief Chet Epperson. Poole opened fire on Peavy, but also hit the passenger of the car, Robert Evitt. "His intentions were to shoot and kill the officer. Because his life was in jeopardy and because of the close proximity of the passenger, he was injured," says Epperson. Peavy backed up, crashed into Poole`s squad car and then took off. He crashed again at Mulberry and Avon. He jumped out of the car and ran into an abandoned building nearby. He was quickly found. He is in surgery in Rockford, while Evitt was flown to the University of Wisconsin hospital in Madison. But this is the second officer shooting in Rockford in less than a week. Officer Aaron Lesmeister shot and killed a man who tried to run him over on Saturday. "I`m not concerned about officers being overly aggressive. This incident stands on its own merit. The incident at Target is over and going to grand jury," says Epperson. Like Lesmeister, Poole will be on administrative leave until he heads to grand jury. He was not injured, but other officers are still concerned. "Anytime you have to fire your weapon or use deadly force, you`re going to have some emotional feeling about it. Some of those officers who have not done that feel this could happen to them," says Epperson. Both of the wounded men have previous charges. Peavy could also be facing attempted murder and aggravated assault charges.