Cobb County officer shot while on patrol

SMYRNA, Ga. — A thug shot and wounded a Cobb County police officer early Friday morning, and authorities spend the day searching for the perp.

The officer was on a routine patrol at Concord Chase Apartments when he was shot at about 1:15 a.m., police said.

“The Officer was on zone patrol when he encountered the subject, described as a black male with short twist in his hair, (wearing) a white t-shirt and khaki shorts,” Smyrna police sent out in an alert to residents. According to reports, the officer attempted to question the man. Instead he ran and opened fire.

“The suspect just arbitrarily ran from the officer,” WGCL-TV quoted a police spokesperson as saying. “The officer gave chase, and was blind-sided and shot.”

The officer was saved by his bullet proof vest, police said.

Authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the shooter’s arrest, according to ajc.com. The officer was reportedly in good condition after the shooting and was taken to a local hospital.

By 8 a.m. Friday morning, Cobb County and Smyrna city police officers were swarming the area. Officers stopped and checked vehicles as they left nearby neighborhoods, but by 10 p.m. no arrest was made.