Richland man injured in officer-involved shooting

A 32-year old Richland man was injured Tuesday night when he was shot while trying to drive away in a Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy's patrol vehicle.

According to a press release from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Deputies were called out to a rolling domestic dispute in the area of Scooteney State Park on Highway 17. Deputies located the car involved a few minutes later at the intersection of Angeline and Caldona in Mesa.

Deputies say the suspect involved got out of the vehicle and ran away on foot. Officers searched for the man and were able to get Michael L. Long into custody, and placed him, cuffed, into the back seat of a patrol car.

While in the back seat, Long managed to climb into the front of the patrol car. Once in the driver's seat, he attempted to flee the scene in the vehicle. While the vehicle was moving, a deputy managed to get the passenger-side door open and tried to stop the vehicle. The deputy fired a round from his service weapon in the process, hitting Long in the leg.

Medics were called to the scene to treat Long and take him to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The deputy, whom the press release identified as Scott Wright, was not hurt. He has been place on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.

Long faces charges for domestic violence, violating a court order, and drug possession. Detectives say there may be several witnesses who saw the domestic violence incident that occurred before deputies arrived on the scene, and the shooting incident, and they're asking witnesses to contact the Special Investigation Unit Commander Craig Littrell at 509-585-4208 or Franklin County Sheriff's Office at 509-545-3501.

The Tri-Cities Special Investigation Unit will investigate the shooting situation.