911 Tape: "Shots Fired Metro"

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By Christy Hutchings - bio | email

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - A Savannah-Chatham Metro Police say an officer was shot at and nearly wounded. Police have released a recording of the radio traffic from that night.

It all happened Saturday night. Savannah-Chatham police officer Chris Tucker tried to stop someone driving away from a traffic checkpoint in Thunderbolt. The driver kept going and wrecked a few blocks away. Tucker followed and found himself in the middle of a gunfight.

"Shots fired Metro! Shots fired," screamed Tucker over the radio. As Tucker called out his location, another shot can be heard going off.

He was all alone on a dark street; just him and the man shooting at him.

One bullet from the shooter hit Tucker's Taser, which was still in its belt holster. Police said Tucker returned fire, hoping his fellow officers would hear his cries for help; which they did. Immediately officers tried to get to him. "Tell me where he's at. We need to know where he is," said one officer to dispatch.

Dispatch told them, "We've got help in route, give me the cross where we had shots fired."

While police tried to get to Tucker, neighbors were already on their phones calling 911; trying to get help for the officer. "911 what's your emergency? There's a shooting here 2248 Mason Dr.," said one caller. "There's one police man out here. Shot's have been fired. He's by himself."

Another caller told 911, "I do see one police car out here and I think he was running up the street after somebody so he might need help."

Witnesses of the shooting said after they heard the shots, Tucker ran back to his car and began to check himself to make sure he hadn't been hit.

Tucker was OK, but the shooter was still on the run. His fellow officers started searching. "We are being advised the suspect is on the foot and ran east from Lorraine toward Skidaway. No description yet."

Then Tucker came back on the radio. "He ran northbound from Lorraine in between Skidaway and Mason Drive. Black male, 5'9, 5'10, 170 pounds, black short hair, black pants."

K9s hit the wood lines, but no sign of the suspect. It wasn't until a short time later police had a suspect. They didn't find him hiding in the woods, but at Memorial Health, shot at least once.

The man that checked himself into Memorial Health was 31-year-old Steven Broadus. He's still at the hospital recovering, but is under police guard. He's already been arraigned at the hospital and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer. The judge also denied him bond. Once Broadus is better, he will be transported to the Chatham County Jail.