A man is charged with attempted murder after he allegedly struck a police officer with his vehicle.
Cruzette Lofton was charged with attempted murder on an officer, felony fleeing and felony leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.
Chief Jeff Curtis said the chase began as a routine traffic stop near the intersection of Fourteenth Street and Calhoun Avenue. Curtis said Lofton refused to stop when the officer turned on the blue lights.
Lofton was the driver of the vehicle that did not pull over for several police officers.
“Several officers were involved with this pursuit,” Curtis said. “The chase would eventually end on a dead end street, where Lt. James Shiers approached the vehicle to get (Lofton) to comply.”
Curtis said that Shiers was one of many officers called to assist with the chase. He was not the original officer who made the initial stop.
“The car then began to accelerate at a high rate of speed, hitting Lt. Shiers as he approached the car,” Curtis said. “As he was being struck, he was able to use his weapon to stop the aggravated assault.”
Curtis said Shiers was not the only officer who fired at Lorton vehicle.
“Multiple officers fired shots,” he added.
Lofton was hit by a bullet, but he continued to drive toward the Gatemouth Moore area.
“Lofton then abandoned his vehicle and led officers on a foot pursuit,” Curtis said. “Officers chased him, but later identified his location.”
Curtis said he and a few other officers arrived at a Duncan Street residence, where Lofton was located inside.
“We provided him with emergency treatment at the home and later transported him to the hospital,” Curtis said. “He had a non-life threatening gunshot wound and was later released from the hospital.”
Outside of his local charges, Lofton also had a Mississippi Department of Corrections warrant for parole violations. He also has a lengthy history with the Yazoo City Police Department.
Shiers suffered multiple injuries. Curtis said he has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.
