An Orlando police officer opened fire Sunday night after a speeding driver nearly hit people and drove toward officers in downtown, according to the police chief.
Cliff Presley Garcia Francois, 29, was arrested.
According to police, bike units responded around 11 p.m. to reports of a suspicious vehicle at 55 West garage. Francois sped out of the garage and traveled “recklessly” on Pine Street and ran a red light at Orange Avenue, the Orlando Police Department said.
He struck a vehicle near Court Avenue, continued driving toward Magnolia Avenue and drove toward officers, police said. One of the officers opened fire before the vehicle struck the back of a patrol car, a release said.
“There were multiple civilians in the roadway for a busy Halloween weekend. The vehicle traveled through the crowd and and used a sidewalk to attempt to flee. Multiple people needed to dive out of the way,” an arrest affidavit said.
Francois was not hit by the gunfire, and no officers were inside the patrol car, Chief Eric Smith said.