(WICHITA, Kan.) — Wichita police release new details about two officer-involved shootings in Wichita Monday evening.
The first shooting happened around 8:00 at Central and Woodlawn. Police were called to Central and Woodlawn, where a man identified as Michael Westendorff was wandering in and out of traffic.
Officers from the Wichita Police Department and Eastborough PD showed up to find out what was going on. The WPD officer was trying to talk to Westendorff when she noticed his hands in his pocket. Police say he pulled out an object that looked like a gun and lunged at her, prompting her to fire a shot.
The Westendorff was struck in the leg. He was treated and released from the hospital and taken into police custody.
Police officials say they later identified the object in his pocket as a CO2 inflator, which is used for inflating bicycle tires.
Police say Westendorf was an escapee from another county jail who was serving time from burglary charges from a few years ago. Police say he was also on a combination of Valium, Xanax and Meth.
