CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Charleston police officer is at home recovering from injuries after a weekend shooting at CAMC General.
Police Chief Steve Cooper said Bryan Ogle, of Tennessee, is accused of shooting Officer Christian Harshbarger twice in the abdomen. It happened during a struggle in a stairwell at the hospital at around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Harshbarger is expected make a full recovery, Cooper said on Tuesday’s “580 Live” with Charleston Mayor Danny Jones.
“Very thankful that that didn’t turn out to be worse,” he said.
Ogle was arrested in Montgomery last week, but required medical attention in connection with that arrest. Cooper said Ogle allegedly crashed a stolen vehicle, resisted arrested and tried to disarm a police officer. He was wanted out of Tennessee.
“He ended up escaping from the officer that was watching him,” Cooper said. A Montgomery officer then called Charleston police to back him up.
“Mr. Ogle was running from the officer, completely undressed and naked,” he said.
When officers arrived at the hospital, they encountered Ogle and the Montgomery officer in a stairwell. Cooper said that’s when Ogle was able to grab the officer’s gun and shot Harshbarger.
“Clearly, he’s a very dangerous man,” Cooper said of Ogle.
Ogle remains in custody. Cooper said he expects him to face a number of charges including attempted murder, wanton endangerment and malicious assault.