ALBUQUERQUE POLICE SAY THE OFFICER WHO SHOT AND WOUNDED A MAN LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON ON CENTRAL AVENUE NEAR NOB HILL WAS BRIAN PITZER. A-P-D SAYS 34 YEAR OLD JOAQUIN ORTEGA FIRED ON PITZER AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY ROBBED A WOMAN AND TRIED TO CAR JACK ANOTHER PERSON. PITZER RETURNED FIRE, STRIKING ORTEGA WHO WAS STILL HOSPITALIZED AT LAST REPORT.
SOME WITNESS ACCOUNTS CONFLICT WITH OTHERS. THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL REPORTS SOME WITNESSES SAID ORTEGA HAD HIS BACK TURNED TO OFFICER PITZER AND WAS RUNNING AWAY WHEN HE WAS SHOT.
OFFICER PITZER WAS HONORED IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 FOR SAVING THE LIFE OF A 2-YEAR-OLD.
