An Orlando police officer continues to recover after he was shot at twice by a convicted felon.
Officer Jason Hajek, 24, was attempting to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 3900 block of Roseboro Street early on Tuesday morning, when an exchange of gunfire took place with the driver, Demetrius L. Patterson, 23.
Investigators say, as Hajek initiated the traffic stop, Patterson and his passenger, Jarod Gardner, fled from the vehicle. Hajek pursued Patterson and gunfire was exchanged.
Hajek was struck twice, once in the abdomen and once in the thigh.
Patterson was also hit and sustained non-life threatening injuries. Investigators say, he fled into a nearby house but was subsequently arrested and transported to the Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Police found a .40 caliber handgun hidden in the house.
Gardner was later questioned by police. He claimed that he didn’t see Patterson fire on Hajek.
Patterson, who was later booked into the Orange County Jail, has a long rap sheet with 26 previous felony charges. He served three years in jail and was released in October 2012.
Patterson has been charged with attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is being held without bond.
