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Man Shot By Kokomo Police Was Holding Cologne, Not Gun

Last updated on Friday, September 16, 2011

(KOKOMO) - A Kokomo man was injured in a police-action shooting Wednesday night after a police chase on U.S. 31 in Howard County, police say.

Indiana State Police is investigating the incident at the request of the Kokomo Police Department. Officers shot the man after thinking he might be holding a gun, but he was holding a cologne bottle.

ISP officials say the incident began when a Kokomo officer pulled over a 1991 Chevrolet Geo for speeding and driving left of center around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday. The traffic stop was near Wheeler and Bell streets in Kokomo.

As the officer was speaking to the driver, the driver sped away, prompting a 12-minute pursuit involving the Kokomo Police Department and Howard County Sheriff's Department. The Geo stopped near County Road 450 South and U.S. 31 after driving over stop sticks twice.

After the Geo stopped, the driver -- 25-year-old Reed M. Turner -- stepped out of the car with his right hand behind his back. Although officers repeatedly told Turner to stop and show his hands, he didn't, prompting police to send a police dog toward him.

Turner ran to dodge the dog and his right hand became visible to officers. Police said they saw a chrome or silver object in his hand, prompting one of the officers to fire his .40-caliber Glock handgun at the man. Turner was shot in the chest, and then officers saw that what he was holding was a cologne bottle.

An ambulance took Turner to IU Health Methodist Hospital, where he was in serious condition but expected to survive.

The officer who fired the gun has been placed in paid administrative leave, per normal Kokomo Police Department procedures.

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