Luke Broadwater and Jason Flanagan, The Examiner
2008-07-16 07:00:00.0
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BALTIMORE -

A convicted South Baltimore drug dealer is in custody after police said he shot an Anne Arundel police officer Tuesday in the Brooklyn neighborhood.

Detectives on Tuesday afternoon were questioning Matthew Gonzalez, 22, of Victor Street in Brooklyn, after he allegedly shot Officer Lee Joines twice, according to sources familiar with the case.

Joines, a four-year veteran, responded to a report of a stolen car being ransacked by suspects on the 400 block of Audrey Avenue near the Anne Arundel County-Baltimore City line shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday, Anne Arundel police said.

Officers saw nine men sitting on steps and attempted to interview them, but Gonzalez tried to run, sources said.

An officer hit Gonzalez with a Taser that apparently had no effect on the 6-foot-2, 230-pound suspect, sources said.

The suspect then turned around and fired two shots, striking the Joines’ gun and bullet-proof vest — which apparently saved his life.

Police said officers returned fire.

Another officer arrested Gonzalez, who still had the prongs from the Taser in his back, sources said.

Joines, 30, was released Tuesday from the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore City. He is administrative leave due to his injuries, police said.

Gonzalez had been convicted of attempted drug distribution and drug possession in 2006 in South Baltimore and sentenced to six months in jail.

He also had been convicted of marijuana possession in 2005 in South Baltimore, and possession of marijuana and a deadly weapon in Bel Air in 2005.

Police roped off several blocks and canvassed the neighborhood looking for clues and suspects.

Residents on the stoops of their row houses said this was the largest police presence the neighborhood had ever seen.

Several residents said they weren’t surprised by the shooting considering the open drug market as well as numerous robberies, stabbings and shootings.

A 15-year resident, who lives a block from the crime scene, said two houses on the street were raided by police, and apparent drug dealers wave down motorists and pedestrians hoping to make a sale.

“You hear things going off, and you don’t know if they are fireworks or gunshots,” said the resident, who did not give her name for fear of her safety.

“It’s frustrating to see what’s going on here.”

jflanagan@baltimoreexaminer.com

lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com