The Albuquerque police chief says the man suspected of shooting and wounding a police officer during a weekend traffic stop was homeless and driving a stolen SUV when he was pulled over.
Chief Gordon Eden says the manhunt for 36-year-old Christopher Cook proved to be difficult because he had been moving around and acquaintances had severed ties with him.
Cook has a long criminal history, and Eden says he was released from prison about a year ago after serving time for multiple violent felonies. Online court records don't list a lawyer for Cook.
At the time of the shooting, he also had arrest warrants related to auto theft.
Bernalillo County sheriff's deputies took Cook into custody without incident around 4 a.m. Tuesday after spotting him staggering along a road.
Cook will face state and federal charges.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
A man suspected of shooting and wounding an Albuquerque police officer during a weekend traffic stop was arrested after a massive manhunt, authorities said Tuesday.
Bernalillo County sheriff's deputies took Christopher Cook, 36, into custody without incident around 4 a.m. Tuesday on suspicion of shooting Officer Lou Golson, Albuquerque police said.
Golson was shot twice, at least once in the torso, as he tried to question Cook early Saturday morning during a stop on suspected drunken driving, police said. It was unclear what provoked the driver to open fire on the officer, who shot back before the suspect fled, authorities said.
Golson is listed in stable condition following surgery, but he will need additional surgeries.
Cook told reporters as he left Albuquerque police headquarters for jail that he didn't know why he shot Golson, then said he didn't do anything.
"I don't remember Saturday. I haven't slept in two weeks," Cook said.
Online court records do not list a lawyer for Cook but show that charges were filed against him Saturday for motor vehicle theft. It was not known if those charges were related to the Saturday traffic stop.
Court records also showed that Cook has a lengthy criminal record and has pleaded guilty to burglary.
Police have scheduled a press conference Tuesday to discuss the case.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offered a $7,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect, and the U.S. Marshals Service posted a $10,000 reward.
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