“Helpless” Missouri cop shot in neck in ambush identified

On the department’s official Facebook page, Saturday night, Ballwin Police identified the officer critically-wounded during a Friday traffic stop.

Michael Flamion is a 9 year law enforcement veteran who joined the Ballwin Police Department in December of 2014. Before that he worked for the De Soto Police Department for seven years.

Ballwin Police Office Mike Flamion was shot in the neck on Friday during a traffic stop, police say.

Taylor, who lived in Forest Park Southeast neighborhood of St. Louis city, drove off but was spotted about 25 minutes later in Manchester and captured after a short foot chase, police say.

Police investigate a scene in Ballwin, Mo., Friday, July 8, 2016, after a Ballwin police officer was shot during a confrontation with a man on a street.

Police say 31-year-old Antonio Taylor of St. Louis County shot the officer with a 22-caliber gun.

“Make no mistake, we believe that Ballwin officer was ambushed”, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said. Flamion is white. Taylor is black.

The shooting came a day after five Dallas police officers were shot and killed by a lone sniper during a protest over the police shooting deaths of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana.

In return the community has shown Officer Flamion, his family, and the entire Ballwin Police family an unbelievable amount of support and compassion. The officer remains hospitalized in critical, but stable condition.

“His sense of humor and professional demeanor make him a centerpiece of our department”, said police in a news release.

Ballwin Alderman Raymond Kerlogan, of Ward 4, said the officer who was shot had taken him on a a ride-along on Tuesday.

“Our heartfelt thoughts are with Officer Flamion and his family during this hard time”. While the officer was turned around, the suspect “advanced quickly”, and fired at least three shits, with one striking Flamion in the neck.

A semi-automatic handgun was recovered, according to St. Louis County Police, who are handling the investigation.

Taylor is being held on $500,000 cash bond and is expected to be arraigned on the felony charges Monday morning.

The event was even caught on a police dashcam.

Police had no information about a motive. ‘I just hope he’s OK.’ She added that she had no medical training, saying, ‘I’m just a mom’.

“I tried to help the officer”, the woman told the newspaper. She said she is shocked by the allegation he was enraged by police violence against black people.