Man in custody; city officer shot in leg

Police said 43-year-old Coatesville resident was driving drunk when he resisted arrest

Updated at 12:10 p.m. with defendant’s bail

A Coatesville police officer investigating a hit-and-run accident was shot in the leg Saturday night, and a 43-year-old city resident who was allegedly driving drunk was taken into custody, Coatesville Det. Kevin Campbell reported.

Officers were called to the area of Fourth Avenue and East Lincoln Highway around 10:30 p.m., where they made contact with the accident victim, police said. The motorist told police he was trying to exchange information with the other driver, whom police have identified as Michael A. Vega Sr., when Vega fled in his sedan, nearly striking the victim, police said.

Police said a marked Coatesville Police car located Vega’s vehicle and attempted to stop it, but Vega kept going, nearly hitting another police vehicle until he was stopped at Third Avenue and Kersey Street, police said. At that time, Vega resisted arrest, and a struggle ensued with a Coatesville officer, whose gun discharged during the scuffle, Coatesville Police Chief Jack Laufer said.

The injured officer, who has not been identified by police, was transported to Brandywine Hospital and then transferred to Paoli Hospital  with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg, police said. Laufer said he spoke with the officer Sunday morning. “The officer is expected to make a full recovery and is expected to be released tomorrow,” he said.

Vega, 43 of Coatesville, is being charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, driving under the influence, and other related charges. Police said Vega was arraigned, and bail was set at $500,000 cash, which Vega was unable to post. He was transported to Chester County Prison to await a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, court records said. The incident remains under investigation; anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-384-2300.