BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas – A man was arrested Saturday evening after he allegedly shot a Brazoria County sheriff's deputy with a handgun.
Officials said Deputy Brian Harper responded to a call of a suspicious person in the 4500 block of County Road 459A. Harper said he found Brian Spinks, 26, at the corner of County Road 459 and County Road 459D in Freeport.
Harper was checking Spinks for weapons when Spinks started to pull away, officials said. Investigators said the deputy took Spinks to the ground to control him and Spinks took out a 9 mm handgun and shot Harper in the lower abdomen.
Harper was wearing a bulletproof vest that stopped the bullet, deputies said.
After he was shot, deputies said Harper pulled the gun away from Spinks, who started to run away.
“One of my buddies ran out there and seen the cop laying there and took his vest off and everything and the other guy tackled the guy that shot the cop,” said witness Tristin Childress.
Residents in the area helped Harper restrain and handcuff Spinks, according to investigators.
“It was just something that is normally not seen in this neighborhood and came to a shock to all of us,” said neighbor Lisa Nielsen.
Spinks was taken to the Brazoria County Jail and charged with attempted capital murder of a peace officer. His bail is set at $1 million.
Harper was taken to the UTMB Angleton Hospital and later released.