Escambia Co., Fla. deputy shot in leg, suspect arrested

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) - The Escambia County Sheriff's Office said Keenan Ross Finkelstein, 23, has been charged with attempted murder of a police officer. This is in connection with the Wednesday, March 21, shooting of Sgt. Shedrick Johnson.

Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said it's the call no one wants to get.

"The call you dread the most is the one that starts out with 'We have an officer down'. That's when you feel the most helpless," Morgan said.

 Officials said Johnson responded to a house in the 8800 block of Burning Tree Road in Pensacola in an attempt to locate a robbery suspect, later identified as 24-year-old Jonathan Brett Chappell.

Chappell had robbed an individual at gunpoint at the Tom Thumb on Pensacola Blvd near W. Street earlier in the evening and retreated to the Scenic Hills home where his acquaintance, Finkelstein, awaited.

According to both the victim and the suspect, the robbery occurred after the two had met to make a drug deal.

As deputies approached the house Finkelstein came out of the garage. Johnson identified himself as law enforcement and instructed him to show his hands. At that time Finkelstein raised a handgun and shots were fired.

During the gunfight, Johnson was hit in the upper left thigh.

Other deputies took care of Johnson until he could be transported to the hospital.

Paul Damico lives next door to the scene.

"Things like that don't happen here. Seriously, the neighborhood is on a golf course. There are nice homes and nice people," Damico said.

From the road you can see around four or five white tags outlining bullet holes above the garage of the house. 

Damico said he heard more than a dozen shots fired.

"If I would have known what was going on, I'd come out to help. Not to be a hero, but I felt bad an officer had been shot," Damico said.

Authorities said drugs were a motive in the crime.

"It'll come out later just how many drugs were tied to the suspects, but it makes you very angry because nothing is worth someone's life," Sheriff Morgan said.

Johnson was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he remains.

According to hospital officials, Sgt. Johnson has been upgraded to fair condition.

Finkelstein was located a short distance away and arrested by Pensacola Police Units.

Shortly afterwards, Chappell exited the garage and was arrested. He is charged with armed robbery with a firearm, grand theft of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance.