CHESAPEAKE, Va. — An officer was shot at by a suspect during a traffic stop turned police pursuit on Wednesday morning.
Chesapeake police say that around 4:30 a.m., a Chesapeake officer was attempting a traffic stop near Greenbrier Parkway and Jarman Road. The vehicle didn't stop and a pursuit ensued.
During the pursuit down River Birch Run, the suspect allegedly shot at the officer. The officer lost sight of the suspect when it went off the road. The officer was not hurt.
35-year-old Robert Lightsey was identified as the suspect and arrested after police were searching for him for around 2 days.
Lightsey is charged with several crimes including felony discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle, felony attempting malicious bodily injury to law enforcement, fire or EMS, possession of needles, capsules, pipe, etc and felony disregarding police command to stop, endangerment.
Neighbors in the Greenbrier area managed to partially capture the chase on home surveillance video. Many said they did not know anything was wrong until they looked out their window and saw the flashing lights.
"For someone to shoot at an officer, there's got to be something wrong with them," said John Cuevas. "I made the left on River Birch Road and I just saw cops everywhere, looking around, searching for evidence."
In an update from Chesapeake police, the suspect vehicle was found abandoned in an apartment complex parking lot off the 1600 block of Ricer Birch Run North.
Those in the community said they were just grateful the responding officer was not hurt.
"I feel like these officers are not getting the credit they deserve, traffic stops are dangerous," said Cuevas. "You never know if someone is going to take off or God forbid have a weapon on them."
Police say the incident is under investigation and that anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-562-5887 or submit a tip online at P3Tips.com.