Portsmouth police officer shot during confrontation

March 9, 2008 | Virginia News

A Portsmouth police officer is recovering after being shot in the head during a standoff.

Detective Jan Westerbeck says dispatchers received a call Sunday morning that an armed man was standing outside a residence. Westerbeck says officers arrived, saw a man with a shotgun and asked him to put down his weapon. But Westerbeck says the man began firing. Police returned fire and one officer was shot in the forehead with pellets from the shotgun. The man eventually put down his gun and surrendered.

The officer was treated and released from the hospital. His identity hasn't been released.

Bobbitt Jermal Gladney was charged with attempted capital murder and using a gun during a felony. Westerbeck says Gladney was not injured.

The shooting is under investigation.