Sheriff’s Office arrests man a deputy shot at but missed when suspect pulled a handgun from his waistband as officers confronted him over injuring a deputy in a car crash

Torraino Johnson is shown on a gurney with emrgency medical technicians Robyn Penick, left, and April Wensel, right, both of Acadian Amlulance Srvices, who are about to take him to an ambulance. In the background is Maj. Robert McNab, head of the Criminal Investigations Bureau of the Sheriff’s Office.

Also shown is the sheriff’s patrol car the suspect crashed into, with Lt. Mike Ingargiola behind the vehicle.

Mug shot of the suspect Johnson in St. Bernard Prison in crash/shooting incident today.

The suspect, Johnson, is shown on the ground at the scene, with Sheriff Pohlmann immediately above him. At right is Det. Capt. Mark Jackson and from left are Sheriff’s Deputy Gary Noriea, who made the initial traffic stop of the suuspect, and Col. John Doran, head of Operations and supervises all enforcement personnel.

St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputies arrested a man who was shot at once but not hit by a deputy Thursday morning when he grabbed a gun from his waistband as officers confronted him over injuring a deputy in a car crash, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The suspect, identified as Torraino Johnson, 28, was being confronted over an incident in which he fled in a vehicle from an attempted traffic stop about 8:30 a.m., then crashed into a sheriff’s patrol car, injuring a deputy who was driving to intercept the fleeing motorist.

The deputy suffered minor injuries despite extensive damage to the patrol car. After the crash, which happened on Paris Road at East Liberaux Street, the suspect ran northbound a short distance along East Liberaux until confronted by several deputies, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Johnson pulled a gun from his waistband and was shot at once by a deputy but he wasn’t hit. Instead, the bullet struck the sheet metal fence of a junkyard at Paris Road and East Liberaux, the sheriff said.

The suspect tossed the gun he had over the fence into the junkyard, where it was later found by deputies. It was determined that gun had been reported stolen in New Orleans, the sheriff said. Several witnesses saw Johnson throw the handgun over the sheet metal fence before he surrendered, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Johnson, who is from New Orleans but had been living with a woman who has an address of 9115 Amour Drive, Chalmette, is on probation after serving time in federal prison for weapons and drug charges, officials said.

“He has a lengthy criminal history,” Sheriff Pohlmann said. “These are the kind of people we have to deal with sometimes. I spoke to him (Johnson) afterward and one of the things he said was he had been shot once previously. He also said he never expected to live to be 28 being involved in the business of weapons and drugs that he has been in.”

“I’m just glad our deputy wasn’t badly injured.”

Johnson was treated at the scene for minor injuries received in the car crash and was taken to University Hospital in New Orleans to be examined. From there he was brought to St. Bernard Parish Prison.

The injured deputy, whose name hasn’t been released, was treated at Tulane Medical Center for minor injuries, the sheriff said after visiting the deputy at the hospital. The sheriff’s car struck by Johnson had extensive damage.

Johnson was booked with three counts of attempted murder of police officers, involving the deputy injured in the wreck and those he pulled a gun on; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a stolen firearm, flight from an officer, resisting arrest and numerous traffic offenses including reckless operation of a vehicle.