Arrest made in case of shooting at Leesburg officer

LEESBURG, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Detectives with the Leesburg Police Department have arrested a person of interest in the case involving the shooting at one of their officers.  The shooting incident happened on Monday night, along U.S. Highway 441,

Leesburg Police Officer Travonte Kitchen said he was patrolling when he saw a man riding his bike with no tail light.  When he tried to pull over the bicyclist and talk to him, he said things turned violent. 

In dashboard camera video taken from Officer Kitchen's patrol car, authorities say you can see the suspect fire a gun at the officer's direction.

"The officer immediately returned fire and maintained cover behind the car," explained Lt. Joe Iotti, Leesburg Police spokesman. 

Officer Kitchen was not hurt.  Just before the shooting, Officer Kitchen called for back up, suspecting the man was going to give him a hard time. He wasn't listening to commands to put both hands in the air, the officer says.

The suspect took off running but left behind his bike as well as a spent and live bullet.  The identity of the person who has been detained was not immediately released.