Shooting of officer spurs manhunt and arrest

The most serious Springfield police officer shooting since the late 1990s triggered an intense manhunt with dozens of officers going door-to-door, through weeds, across train tracks and over fences.

The seven-hour search culminated in officers pulling a disheveled man out of hiding across the street from where Officer Aaron Pearson was shot.

Police Chief Paul Williams said the investigation started shortly before 1:30 a.m. Monday, when an officer noticed "suspicious activity" — three people hanging out behind a closed business — at the O'Reilly Auto Parts store at the corner of Glenstone Avenue and Chestnut Expressway.

Three officers including 30-year-old Pearson responded to the scene.

"The officers split up and each were tasked with questioning one of the subjects," Williams said.

Moments later, Pearson was shot at least once, and suffered serious injuries. Other officers secured the scene and helped Pearson, who was taken to a local hospital where he remained Monday evening.

Williams said "every available officer," was pulled in to help with the search. Some officers stayed later and others came in early. "We had officers calling in who were off today who wanted to help," he said.

A large perimeter was set up, fanning out from Glenstone and Chestnut. It extended to Barnes Avenue on the east, Delaware Avenue to the west and Trafficway to the south. A Missouri Highway Patrol helicopter circled above.

The eastbound turning lane, from Glenstone onto Chestnut in front of O'Reilly's, was blocked with yellow police tape most of the day. A backpack was on the ground and evidence markers were scattered across the concrete.

A special response team, dressed in camouflage and tactical gear, crossed the lanes of Chestnut near dawn and searched the businesses near the Panda Express, where media outlets were staged. The team searched around the building of the Auto By Rent store, looking inside cars on the lot, as other officers checked businesses nearby.

Shortly after 8 a.m., the team rallied near the food truck lot. They returned to the rent-to-own auto place and, one by one, scaled the tall fence behind the business, dropping into a lot where vehicles are secured overnight.

There was a loud rustling noise and then officers yelled for a man not to move. Then one shouted: "We got him."

Officers who were searching nearby responded to the lot and investigators showed up before the man was led away in handcuffs.

The man taken into custody — less than a block from where the shooting occurred — was Joshua Lee Hagood, who has been convicted of assaulting police officers in the past. He was later booked into the Greene County Jail, on suspicion of trespassing.

Officers continued to search the area and limit traffic flow through late afternoon, when Williams announced Hagood was the focus of the investigation and no other suspects were being sought.

Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott expressed concern for the officer shot. He said law enforcement is on high alert these days because attacks on officers seem to be happening more frequently.

"It hits really close to home that you're just one incident away from that happening," Arnott said. "We've all stepped up our game."

Williams said there was no reason to believe Monday's incident was a calculated attack on law enforcement. He also answered questions about officers working alone during the overnight shift.

Williams said having two officers in every vehicle is "not fiscally feasible" and the department functions well using one-officer vehicles in that shift. He added that doubling up wouldn't have made a difference in this situation because multiple officers were investigating the scene and backing each other up.

In April 2011, Williams instituted a change in department policy that required all uniformed officers on patrol to wear body armor.

Before then, officers were encouraged to wear vests, but only required to keep it at "arm's reach" unless involved in a high-risk action.

According to statistics compiled in the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, 117 officers were assaulted in Springfield during 2014. Of those, 25 officers suffered injury during the assault. None of those injuries were caused by a firearm, according to the report.

Mayor Bob Stephens said, in a statement: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the officer, his wife and family, and the officer's colleagues who put on the badge and blue uniform every day to protect and serve the rest of us.

"This should serve as a reminder to all Springfieldians of the potential dangers that those who serve in the public safety sector face every day and night."

Donations

Police Spokeswoman Lisa Cox said anyone wishing to make a donation on behalf of the officer may do so through the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police Foundation. The primary account location is Commerce Bank at 2770 W. Republic Rd.

Checks can also be sent to:

Missouri FOP Foundation

2101 W. Chesterfield Blvd. C100-91

Springfield, MO 65807

Write "Springfield Police" in the memo line. Donations will go to the family.

Line of duty injuries

Other Springfield police officers who have been shot in the line of duty:

February 2013: Det. Travis Wilson was grazed in a shootout in which Martin Y. Potts shot at officers serving a search warrant at 2506 W. Grand St. Potts was killed in the shoot-out. He had been released from prison only two months prior.

August 1997: Springfield Officer Greg Wheelen was shot by Marty Swindle during a standoff at the American Inn (3550 E. Evergreen St.). Wheelen survived, but Swindle was killed in an exchange of gunfire. Swindle was wanted on drug charges by the US Marshal's Office.

December 1989: Cpl. Larry Robinson was shot while trying to arrest a man wanted for rape and murder in California. Timmy Lee DePriest, then 29, led police on a 15-block chase that ended in downtown Springfield. DePriest emptied his .25-caliber revolver, hitting Robinson in the chest and shoulder. Robinson later recovered and was featured in the national television show "Top Cops."

January 1932: Six Springfield lawmen were slain in what is called the Young Brothers Massacre. Harry and Jennings Young were holed up in a farmhouse on the western edge of Springfield and had no plans of being taken alive. They escaped that day, but three days later the law caught up with them. They were killed in Houston, Texas. Those officers killed were Springfield police officers Tony Oliver, Sid Meadows and Charles Houser; Greene County Sheriff Marcell Hendrix; deputy Wiley Mashburn; and former deputy Ollie Crosswhite.

—By Steve Pokin