Officer involved in shooting identified

NORWICH, Conn. (WTNH) -- Police have released the identity of the officer involved in a shooting outside William Backus Hospital.

Police say Sgt. Patrick Mickens, a 19-year veteran of the Norwich police department, drew his gun and fired two shots at a suspect who was trying to run him over with his car.

The incident happened around 6 a.m Tuesday morning when police were called to the hospital's parking lot to investigate a suspicious person.

Officers found the man, whose name has not yet been released, sitting in his running car.

A police cruiser parked behind the car while the suspect spoke with Mickens and the suspect's mother. Then the suspect suddenly backed into the cruiser and then drove towards the officer and his mother.

Mickens was able to push the woman out of harms way, but he was clipped by the car's side mirror. That's when Mickens fired two shots into the car, striking the driver.

Mickens and the suspect were both taken into the hospital to be treated for non life threatening injuries.

Mickens has been assigned to administrative duties while the incident is under investigation.