HOUSTON –

A Houston police officer is recovering after being shot in the back during a traffic stop in Midtown Tuesday evening.

Officer Terry Smith and another motorcycle unit officer were conducting traffic duties in the 4200 block of Main Street, across from Sears, around 6 p.m.

The driver Smith pulled over had already left the scene and the officer was chatting with the other motorcycle officer.

At some point, a shot was fired in the direction of the officers and Smith was struck in the back.

“The officer was putting away his ticket book and stuff he needed for the traffic stop,” HPD Capt. Dwayne Ready said. “He was leaning over into his saddlebag when they heard the pop and it was shortly thereafter that he felt pain.”

“Just before the shooting, both officers saw a champagne-colored Buick, believed to be involved in an accident with a white Jeep minutes before, pull into the parking lot.  The driver was a man and the passenger was a pregnant woman.  They both fled after shots were fired.

Officers are gathering surveillance footage from nearby cameras, hoping to find evidence that could lead them to the mysterious shooter.

“We’re on the hunt for videos as well as other evidence,” Ready said.

The shooting happened next to a busy METRO rail line, but investigators said they think the shooter was in a car.

“We believe at this time, since there wasn’t a lot of foot traffic, it’s got to be a passing vehicle that fired the rounds,” Ready said.

http://m.click2houston.com/news/hpd-officer-shot-during-traffic-stop-near-midtown/33492542

Apparently a citizen has been pushed over the edge by the Houston P.D.

Looks like those boys better be ducking and covering for a while