Mount Pleasant officer injured in officer-involved shooting released from hospital

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – A Mount Pleasant officer injured during an incident with an armed suspect Tuesday afternoon has been released from the hospital.

The officer, who has not yet been identified, was treated for “stabbing wounds” at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Law enforcement responded to a report of indecent exposure at 651 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard around 5:15 p.m. where they encountered an individual matching the suspect’s description.

Witnesses at the scene said they saw the suspect stab the officer, causing the officer to fire their gun in response, striking the suspect.

“There was a man and a police officer on the side of the road, then all of a sudden, the suspect lurched on top of the officer and tackled him to the ground,” said Cooper Wright who was driving with his brother from nearby Melvin’s BBQ when they saw the scene unfold. “The police officer got slammed to the ground on his face. Blood was pouring down his face, and the suspect ran around the front of the police car.”

Wright said the officer then tackled the suspect again before reaching for his weapon and firing.

Witnesses said the officer was stabbed in the lower stomach area.

Officials said at the time that both individuals were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and taken to a nearby hospital.

News 2 has reached out to authorities for specific details regarding the incident. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has taken over the investigation.

In the meantime, Mount Pleasant police said the officer has been placed on administrative leave while SLED investigating the incident, which follows standard procedure for an officer-involved shooting.