Police: Roanoke man shot after opening fire on officer during traffic stop
A Roanoke man was airlifted to an Atlanta hospital after allegedly shooting at a Roanoke police officer during a traffic stop Saturday night.
According to the Roanoke Police Department, the incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, at the intersection of Highway 22 West and North Main Street.
Authorities said a Roanoke police officer initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as 48-year-old Joshua Huddleson.
During the stop, the officer developed probable cause to ask Huddleson to exit the vehicle. Once outside, Huddleson reportedly began displaying erratic behavior. The officer then conducted a pat-down search and located a handgun.
Police said that after the handgun was recovered, Huddleson pushed away from the officer, produced a second handgun, and fired several shots at the officer while fleeing the scene. The officer returned fire.
A search for Huddleson was launched, and he was later found inside an abandoned house near the scene suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso. He was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta for treatment.
No law enforcement officers or civilians were injured during the incident.
Because the case involves an officer-involved shooting, the investigation has been turned over to the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation.
Several agencies assisted in the search for Huddleson, including the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, and the police departments of Wedowee, Wadley, Lanett, Oxford, Newnan, and LaGrange.
Additional information, including potential charges against Huddleson, has not yet been released.
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