PA cop shoots suspected home burglar

Published 3:32 pm Thursday, September 24, 2015

A Port Arthur Police Officer shot and injured a man who was breaking into his home early Thursday morning.

Officer Ahmaal Bodden, an 11-year veteran of the police force, was woken by the sound of breaking glass at the front of his house at about 12:30 a.m. Sept. 24 in the 900 block of West Gulfway Drive. Bodden was at home with his family when the incident occurred.

The officer found the 53-year-old Beaumont man on his front porch with a hammer trying to gain entrance to the home, Port Arthur Police Chief Mark Blanton said.

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“Officer Bodden confronted him and subsequently the suspect was shot,” Blanton said.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, was shot once in the hip/pelvic area and taken into custody. He was transported to Christus Hospital-St. Elizabeth in Beaumont for treatment.

“We are in the process of gathering information from witnesses and forensics and the findings will be turned over the to District Attorney tomorrow (Friday),” he said.

Officer Bodden was not injured in the incident.

The suspect is being investigated for burglary of a habitation but has not been charged as of Thursday afternoon. Blanton expected charges to be filed against the man.

Blanton said investigators do not believe the suspect knew the home was the residence of an officer. Per department procedures Bodden has been placed on administrative leave and is required to meet with a department psychologist, which is standard procedure.

He anticipates the mater to be completed by the middle of next week.

E-mail: mary.meaux@panews.com

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