Officer fires weapon in Haverhill incident

A police investigation in Haverhill took a dangerous turn Tuesday.

According to the Essex County District Attorney's Office, at approximately 11:38 a.m., law enforcement officers conducted an investigation in the area of ​​the McDonald's on Main Street involving two people in a car.

After officers approached the vehicle, the driver backed into several police cars, struck one officer and then continued driving toward other officers, the DA's office said. A Haverhill officer then fired his firearm.

The car fled and was pursued by police officers from Haverhill and later to Lawrence, where both occupants abandoned it.

The driver was arrested a short time later and taken to a local hospital with injuries by first responders. Police still haven't caught the second person in the car.

Due to the ongoing investigation, prosecutors are withholding the names of the arrested suspect and the officer involved.

The incident is being investigated by the Essex County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the District Attorney's Office, along with MSP Crime Scene Services and Ballistics and several other MSP troopers and units.