Update: Liberty Police identified suspect shot in alleged stolen vehicle investigation
On Monday, Liberty Police were involved in a shooting in the parking lot of Belmont Plaza at 3:30 p.m. The suspect had allegedly stolen a vehicle before the police boxed the suspect in. Police are now giving an update on the shooting.
According to the media release, Liberty Township Police Officers responded to a notification from the Flock License Plate Reader system regarding a stolen vehicle.
Officers located the suspect vehicle, which was found parked and occupied in the lot of Harbor Freight.
Officers block the vehicle in with the police cars, in an effort to prevent a potential pursuit.
The release stated officers exited their vehicles and issued commands for the driver — identified as 31-year-old Jason A. Cain — to surrender.
The release said Cain ignored the officers' commands and instead began ramming the police vehicles, placing officers and bystanders in immediate danger.
One officer opened fire on the suspect, striking Cain.
According to officers, Cain's vehicle accelerated the car at high rate of speed, crashing through the front wall of
the Harbor Freight building before coming to a stop.
Officers ordered a female passenger from the vehicle and took her in for questioning.
Cain was transported by the Liberty Fire Department to the hospital, where he is currently in critical condition.
The officer who shot Cain has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation into the incident.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation has also been contacted and will handle the investigation.