A police officer in Arkansas sparked a manhunt and investigation when he claimed he’d been shot during a traffic stop by a “Hispanic man in his 30s.” Turns out that was total bullshit. David Houser, 50, was arrested Tuesday after finally admitting to his colleagues that it never happened, there was no traffic stop, and no scary brown guy. The cop just shot himself, and apparently by accident.
Police Chief Nathan Cook said he fired Houser on Monday after the officer admitted to investigators that he had lied.
From local news station KXAN in Arkansas:
A news release from the department last month gave details of Houser’s account of the events, which included knocking the driver’s gun away and spinning out of harm’s way as the driver fired. He told investigators a bullet grazed across his bullet-resistant vest and deflected off a pen. He was not hurt in the incident.
Police launched a manhunt and tip line looking for the SUV and driver whom Houser described as a Hispanic man in his 30s.
Cook said Monday that the hole in Houser’s left breast pocket of his uniform was self-inflicted.
“The crime scene was staged. The bullet hole was self-inflicted,” Cook said. “He had laid out some different caliber (casings) to make it appear he had exchanged gunfire. He did discharge his service weapon.”