NEW YORK CITY – After a traffic stop in East Germantown, things got very chaotic and dangerous. Luckily, no one was hurt, including the police officers.
What we know
Just after 10 p.m., police stopped a Buick in the 5800 block of Morton Street.
According to the police, just before the stop, they saw the driver, 45-year-old Shahlem Groover, lean toward the passenger side of the car and quickly sit back up. They noticed that he looked nervous as they talked to him.
On hearing that the registration had run out, he was asked for the paperwork, which included proof of insurance. Although the license plate didn’t match the paperwork, he showed the paperwork and it fit the car.
The police said Groover didn’t believe them and asked to get out of the car to see the tag for himself.
Police say that once he got out of the car, he started to swerve, which showed the officers that he was about to run.
The police then checked the car for safety and saw that the glove box was locked. He refused to open it when they asked him to.
The conversation went on until Groover got more angry, rolled up the windows, and drove off.
The police chased Groover until they reached the 300 block of Mechanic Street. He got out of the car, got out, and started running on foot.
He was quickly caught by police, who saw that he had a gun on him.
“When the officers grabbed him and were actually taking him into custody, the suspect fired one shot from just inches away, fired one shot at the officer, but missed, and the officers were able to overpower him and take him into custody,” Scott Small said.
The police officers were not hurt, and they did not draw their guns.
The gun that Groover was carrying was found, along with drugs that were in his car.
At the scene, there was also one empty shell case.
What they’ve said
When the suspect shot at the police officers, there was “no mistaking” them because they were in full dress and driving a marked patrol car.
Philadelphia Police Chief Kevin Bethel said, “We’re always constantly at a disadvantage because anyone we encounter could have a gun, legally or illegally, and so and it’s our job to continue to train our men and women to be as vigilant as they can, but also understanding that they have to work within the constitutional framework.”
These events happen just a few days after two Virginia Beach police officers were killed when they tried to stop a driver whose license plates were outdated and the driver drove off. On top of that, a Camden County police officer is in the hospital getting better after what police say was a random stabbing while on duty on Sunday night.
Police say it’s up to the officer to decide whether to let the driver get out of the car during a stop.
“If you take him out of the car, handcuff him, search him, there would be others on one side saying they were wrong to do that and when the officers take a more professional approach and working to see whether they have reasonable suspicion or probable cause to make a more aggressive stop, then they do and so there is this balance,” Bethel said.
The murder of Officer Jaime Roman is brought up by Commissioner Bethel. Roman was shot and killed during a live stop in the summer of 2024, after spending about thirty minutes outside the car with the suspect.
“It wasn’t until that final inventory was done and they saw a holster and they asked him, ‘Do you have a gun?’ that he started to run and turn and take his life, so you have to question all of that,” Bethel said. “The work that they’re doing is to help our community to get individuals who want to cause harm off our streets and so we’ll continue to do that despite the inherent dangers of this job.”
What’s next?
Groover has been charged with battery on a police officer, attempted murder, and other charges.
The Source
The Philadelphia Police Department gave us the information in this story.
