Officer Shoots Driver of Truck Reported Stolen

A Los Angeles police officer shot and wounded one of two men who rammed an allegedly stolen pickup truck into a police car Thursday in Van Nuys, slightly hurting the officer, authorities said.

Vincent Jenniman, 33, was treated for a gunshot wound in the lower left leg at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center jail ward, Officer Larry Judd said. Jenniman and John Watson, 21, a passenger in the truck, were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, Judd said.

Watson was being held at the department’s Van Nuys Jail.

The shooting occurred after a milelong chase that began when Officer Thomas Bibbs saw a truck matching the description of a stolen vehicle in the 13000 block of Cantlay Street, Judd said. Bibbs tried to stop the truck, but it continued, eventually ramming through two chain-link gates at the Stroh Brewery Co. plant in the 7500 block of Woodman Avenue, Judd said.

Jenniman continued driving until he lost control of the truck on Van Nuys Boulevard, Judd said. Bibbs got out of the patrol car and was walking toward the stopped truck when Jenniman suddenly sped toward the officer, hitting the police car, Judd said.

Jenniman and Watson tried to flee on foot, but Bibbs caught up with them and fired two rounds from his gun, Judd said. Bibbs suffered a minor injury to his wrist in the crash, Judd said.