Man accused of shooting CMPD officer in the leg after domestic spat throws socks ‘saturated’ with blood at police: Docs ...Middle East

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer is recovering after being shot in the leg while attempting to intervene in a domestic assault in uptown Charlotte.

The violent encounter happened just after 6 a.m. on Sunday, July 6, at The Asher Uptown Apartments on North Church Street.

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According to court documents, the CMPD officer was off-duty and responding to a report of a man assaulting a woman in a vehicle parked outside the apartment complex.

Witnesses said the suspect, later identified as 20-year-old Demetruis Taquan Bristow, had been seen earlier in the lobby “drinking and acting aggressively” on the phone with his girlfriend.

Officer attempts to stop reported assault

Court records state that the situation escalated when Bristow’s girlfriend arrived to pick him up. Witnesses told CMPD detectives they saw Bristow yelling and assaulting the woman inside the car. The CMPD officer involved was reportedly flagged down by a witness and attempted to intervene, identifying himself as law enforcement and trying to calm Bristow down.

Bristow allegedly got out of the vehicle, slapped the CMPD officer’s phone out of his hand, and began physically attacking the officer. Witnesses said they then heard multiple gunshots and saw Bristow leaning over the CMPD officer before fleeing the scene.

Officer shot in the leg, heavy blood loss

According to court records, the CMPD officer was shot once in the leg and “lost consciousness multiple times” due to heavy blood loss.

He was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. As of Monday, CMPD reports that the officer remains in serious but stable condition.

Suspect initially flees, throws bloody socks at police

After fleeing the area, CMPD reports that Bristow was spotted by police officers matching the description given by several witnesses. Bristow reportedly attempted to avoid arrest by running and even jumping a fence, discarding a backpack along the way. CMPD said a search warrant was obtained for the backpack, and evidence connected to the shooting was recovered.

Bristow was eventually taken into custody. Records state that while handcuffed in the back of a patrol car, CMPD said he managed to move his cuffs to the front, remove his socks, soaked in blood, and throw them at an officer. He later told police the blood was his, and surveillance video confirmed he was the same person seen shooting the CMPD officer, records state.

Bristow now faces a list of serious charges, including:

Attempted first-degree murder Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill Assault inflicting serious bodily injury on a law enforcement officer (LEO) Assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer Malicious conduct by a prisoner Assault on a government official Assault on a female Resisting, delaying, and obstructing a public officer

He is currently being held without bond. This case is due back in court on July 25.

Crime & Public Safety