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Nicholasville police provided this picture of officer John Rainey's bullet-proof vest which saved him from serious injury Friday night. A bullet hole is seen above the "EVIDENCE" tag. (Nicholasville Police Department / October 22, 2012) |
The Nicholasville Police Department is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of a person who shot one of its officers Friday night.
Nicholasville police officer John Rainey was shot in the back shortly after 8 p.m. Friday night near 110 Miles Road, near Maple Street. Rainey, who was wearing his bullet proof vest, was transported to Saint Joseph-Jessamine RJ Corman Ambulatory Care Center after the shooting.
Officer Kevin Grimes said Friday evening Rainey was in good condition.
“The officer was transported to Saint Joseph-Jessamine, where he seems to be doing OK right now,” Grimes said.
Rainey was on patrol in the Miles Road area when he spotted a “suspicious subject,” according to Grimes.
“About 8:07 (Rainey) was on patrol, and he called out on the radio that he was out with a suspicious subject at 110 Miles Road, and within about three minutes, he got on the radio and he called out, ‘Shots fired! Shots fired!’” Grimes said. “At that point, EMS responded and other units responded to the scene, and he was able to return fire at the subject as well.”
Sgt. Scott Harvey said Rainey saw a male lurking near some houses and he got out of his patrol car to investigate.
“He was driving up Maple Leaf (Lane) when he saw somebody that looked suspicious duck in between two houses,” Harvey said. “So he got out to see who it was and what was going on, and when he got in behind the houses, he couldn’t see the guy, so he called out ‘Police!,’ and that’s when the guy shot at him.”
Rainey was shot in the back panel of his ballistic vest as he searched for the individual. Rainey spun around and returned fire after he was shot. The suspect then ran off on foot from Maple Leaf Lane.
Grimes said it was unclear if Rainey’s shots wounded the man.
“(Rainey) fired several shots back at him, but we don’t know if he was hit,” Grimes said.
Grimes said the man fled after the shots were fired, and police are searching for him.
“The subject took off running and went back in the fields toward a barn area,” Grimes said Friday night.
“We are currently using Lexington PD’s helicopter to try to find this individual at this time.”
Grimes said other officers were on scene within a minute after the “shots fired” call.
There wasn’t much in the way of a description of the suspect other than a male wearing dark clothing.
The reward is in addition to a $1,000 reward being offered by Crime Stoppers for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot Rainey.
Harvey said Rainey will be off duty while he recovers from injuries sustained.
“He should be off for a little while; I don’t know if it has been determined for how long, but yes, he will be off for a little while,” Harvey said.
Anyone with any information is asked to call central dispatch at 859-887-5447.
