Authorities capture suspect in shooting after 13-hour hunt

Published Saturday, March 17, 2007

NEOSHO (AP) - A southwest Missouri man suspected of shooting and wounding two police officers was captured yesterday afternoon after a 13-hour manhunt, police said.

Adam Bridgewater, 20, was taken into custody about 3:30 p.m. behind a Newton County farm about eight miles southeast of Neosho. He was charged with two felony counts of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and two felony counts of armed criminal action.

Neosho Police Chief David McCracken said the search began about 2:30 a.m. yesterday when Sgt. Dan Cook was shot in the arm while trying to pull Bridgewater over on a traffic stop.

Bridgewater drove off with police in pursuit, and Officer Mike Sharp was shot in the face by a bullet fired through the cruiser of his windshield, the chief said.

Cook was treated at a hospital and released.

Sharp was taken to a Joplin hospital, where he was listed in good condition.

Officers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and surrounding sheriff’s departments also took part in the chase, in which gunfire was exchanged at least twice, authorities said.

The sport utility vehicle Bridgewater was driving was found crashed, and the manhunt continued on foot as officers followed tips from the public.

Bridgewater had active warrants for probation violation and property damage, authorities said. In 2005, he was arrested for breaking an aquarium and stealing fish at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery.