By Lookout Staff

May 18, 2010 --A Santa Monica Police officer was shot in the abdomen early Tuesday morning during a DUI traffic stop at the intersection of Pico and Lincoln Boulevards. The unidentified officer was sent to a nearby hospital. His injuries were not reported to be life-threatening.

According to SMPD officials, the officer pulled over the vehicle containing a driver and one passenger shortly before 2 a.m. While a DUI test was being performed on the driver, the passenger got out of the vehicle and opened fire.

Officers who had been called in for back up returned fire. The suspect fled the scene.

The suspect was found nearby shortly after 5 a.m., and another fire exchange occurred in which the suspect was wounded.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested.
No names involved in the incidents have been released.