New Orleans, LA - Tonight, members of the New Orleans Police Department have arrested 22-year-old Alex Patterson and book him with approximantely 25 auto burglaries after a vehicle pursuit and shooting.  The offense occurred shortly before 9:00 p.m., in the Saint Bernard Housing Development courtyard, Sere Street and Saint Bernard Avenue.

 According to investigators, Public Housing COPS officers Chris Davis and Jermaine Johnson were on patrol when they spotted a dark colored Pontiac Grand Prix that was reported stolen yesterday from Orleans Parish .  After a short vehicle pursuit, the vehicle struck the curb and became disable in the courtyard.  The suspect exited the stolen vehicle and pointed a firearm at the officers at which time gunfire erupted.  The officers engaged in a brief foot pursuit at which time the suspect entered the police officers vehicle and fled.  Responding units spotted the stolen police vehicle at Broad Street and Saint Bernard Avenue where it struck a cab, a traffic light pole and a parked vehicle.  The suspect exited the police vehicle and fled on foot at which time he was apprehended at Broad and O’Reilly Streets without further incident.  The driver of the cab had no passengers and he complained of minor injury.  No one else was injured in the incident and the officers found the suspects loaded 9mm Ruger handgun on the floor board of the police vehicle. 

 Arrested:         22-year-old Alex Patterson
                       4170 Old Gentilly Road
     
 Booked With:  Approximantely 25 Auto Burglaries
                      Two Counts of Attempted Murder on Police Officers
                      Theft and Possession of A Police vehicle
                      Two Counts Of Hit And Run
                      Illegal Possession of A Concealed Weapon 
                      Numerous Traffic Violations

 Members of the Public Integrity Bureau and the Office of Municipal Investigations were on the scene and will conduct independent reviews into this incident.